JUPITER, Fla. — An arrest has been made in connection with an unsubstantiated threat made against Jupiter Community High School, according to the school district.
Palm Beach County school police and Jupiter police investigated the threat posted on social media Tuesday.
Principal Colleen Iannitti sent out a message to parents earlier Tuesday stating that, while there was still no evidence that the threat was sustainable, Jupiter High School would have an increased police presence Wednesday as a way to ease concerns and maintain security.
Iannitti asked parents to share the information with students and advise them not to spread rumors but share concerns about any suspicious activity with a trusted adult or one of the district's tip reporting apps.
"These threats are no joke and they are taken seriously," a school district spokeswoman said after the arrest.
The arrest was made not long after the principal's message was sent out to parents. Police haven't released the name of the person who was arrested.
The district also believes the person acted alone.
The arrest came just a few hours after the threat was posted to Snapchat, which threatened to harm more than a dozen students and a few administrators.
"This latest post seems to align with a recent, disturbing trend of social media posts threatening schools throughout the nation, state, and our community," Iannitti said. "Making a threat against a school is a second-degree felony in Florida. Those responsible may face criminal charges and school discipline, including expulsion, as outlined in the student code of conduct."
Parents like Jasmine Glassgold are praising the joint efforts of school and city police.
”Today was probably the safest day to send your child to school,” Glassgold said. "There’s been a threat almost everyday in every other school so I think it’s a trend."
She like parent Cindy Fulmer refuse to live in fear.
”I can’t live in fear and we have to continue to live on in life and learn and do goo things,” Fulmer said.
And that’s the overwhelming response WPTV received from parents following the arrest of a person connected to the “unsubstantiated threat” to Jupiter Community High School on Tuesday the result of the joint work of both school police and Jupiter PD.
”Everybody did a great job,” Glassgold said.
The district whose in charge of the case believes the person acted alone and the arrest was made after the threat was posted to Snapchat. Similar to a Snapchat post by two teens in Martin County earlier this month, who threatened to “shoot up” Martin County High School.
”And these kids are going to be punished and it’s going to ruin their careers for later in life and they’re going to learn the hard way,” Glassgold said.
”We definitely need to supervise and have control over the social media stuff at this age for sure,” added Fulmer.
But that’s the big question —— who was the latest culprit? Regardless making a threat against a school in Florida is a second degree felony even if it’s made as a joke. A bad one.
”That’s just sad,” Glassgold said.
Both Martin and Palm Beach County School districts have encouraged parents to speak to their children about reporting threats — if they hear something, say something.