11-year-old Pinellas County student arrested after joking about conducting school shooting, deputies say

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — An 11-year-old boy was arrested Monday after deputies said he sent text messages to another student saying he was going to conduct a mass shooting at Pinellas Park Middle School.

The sheriff’s office said the 11-year-old sent a photo of what appeared to be an AR-15 to another student.

When deputies spoke to the student, he initially denied sending any text messages. Later, deputies said the boy admitted it was a joke.

Deputies said they found a BB gun that resembled an AR-15 with the boy.

The 11-year-old was arrested and charged with one count of written threats to kill or conduct a mass shooting.

Anyone with information about any threats is asked to call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-6200 or report it online at getfortifyfl.com .

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