Round 2 of Florida: Brevard County Teen Arrested For Localizing Social Media Post

BREVARD COUNTY, Florida – A Brevard County teenager suspected of modifying a Snapchat photo depicting a masked gunman with the caption “Round 2 of Florida” so that the threat appeared to be directed towards a Brevard County Public School was arrested on Friday.

The original post from South Carolina (above image) went viral across the country due to heightened public emotions as a result of the Florida school shooting that occurred on Ash Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Although the original post and threat was initiated in South Carolina yesterday by a South Carolina teen who was later arrested, the post was allegedly modified by Canaveral Groves teen last night to make the threat directed against Space Coast Jr/Sr High School in Port St. John, Florida (below image).

Brevard County Sheriff’s investigators say that they identified a 15-year-old female student at Space Coast Jr/Sr High School as the person who localized threat by adding the text “I’m coming space coast, watch out.”

According to investigators, the Space Coast teen said that she thought it was “funny” because everyone else was doing it and the reaction it was generating.

The student was arrested early Friday morning and charged with Written Threats to Kill or do Bodily Harm. The teenage girl was then transported to the Brevard County Juvenile Detention Center.

However, Sheriff Ivey announced later on Friday during a press conference that the judge found no probable cause for the arrest because the threat was a general one rather than one against an individual as required by current Florida statutes.

Ivey said that the State Attorney’s Office is researching other possible charges to refile against the teen and that she will still be subject to disciplinary actions by Brevard Public Schools.

“We know our families are concerned, and we are grateful for their vigilance in reporting threatening behavior or social-media posts,” said Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Desmond K. Blackburn.

“We will continue to work closely with the Brevard Sheriff’s Office to protect our children and staff. Our team will keep families informed about their schools as quickly as possible by text, email, social media and recorded phone calls.”