Authorities reported that tips were received through the Fortify FL app following a warning from a Clay High School student, advising peers to avoid attending school the next day.
GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — A Clay High School student has been taken into custody for allegedly issuing threats against classmates, as announced by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.
Officials noted that on Tuesday, a tip was submitted via the FortifyFL app concerning some “disturbing” messages.
The sheriff’s office detailed that a 17-year-old student had messaged another student, suggesting they skip school due to his stated “need to kill.”
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The student was subsequently identified, questioned, and arrested for making a written or electronic threat to kill, according to CCSO.
“The Clay County Sheriff’s Office treats all school-related threats with utmost seriousness and will continue to collaborate with Clay County District Schools to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff,” the agency emphasized in a statement.
Out of an abundance of caution, Clay High saw an increased police presence throughout the day on Wednesday.
“Clay County District Schools maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding threats and students who make them will be disciplined according to the student code of conduct,” Principal Jen Halter told students. “I want to extend a sincere thank you to the community member who brought this to our attention. By ‘seeing something and saying something,’ you allowed us to respond immediately.”
Clay County School District issued the following statement to First Coast News:
“Clay County District Schools is aware of the recent arrest made by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office involving a student from Clay High School. The safety and security of our students and staff remain our absolute highest priority.
“The district and school administration worked in close coordination with the Sheriff’s Office throughout the investigation. We want to reassure our families that the individual in question is not on campus. Any student who makes a threat of violence, whether verbal, written, or on social media, will face significant disciplinary consequences in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct, in addition to any legal charges pursued by law enforcement.
“We encourage our OneClay community to remain vigilant—if you see something, say something. We are grateful for the swift action of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, our school administration, and our Safety and Security Department in resolving this matter.
Due to federal student privacy laws (FERPA), the district cannot provide further specifics regarding the student involved or their disciplinary status.”
