A pair of high school students were under investigation by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in a pair of different incidents at different schools.
On Sept. 8, the HCSO received a tip via FortifyFL that a Hernando High School student had posted on Instagram his intention to sell an AR-15 rifle, possibly on school grounds. FortifyFL is a cell phone app that allows students and others to anonymously connect with law enforcement agencies and school officials to report potentially harmful, dangerous, or violent situations or criminal activities.
In response, deputies visited the student’s home and spoke with his father who allowed deputies to inspect the firearm in question. They subsequently identified it as a BB gun. In addition, the student told deputies that he was not planning to bring the BB gun to school.
Officials at Hernando High School were advised about the outcome of the investigation.
Also on Sept. 8 officials at Springstead High School received multiple reports about a potential shooting at the school.
Deputies were able to identify a student who had allegedly made the threat after having a verbal altercation with a teacher which was overheard by another student.
Deputies visited the student’s home to speak with him and his parents. The student told deputies that he was upset but never threatened to hurt anyone.
Meanwhile, his parents signed a waiver of search that allowed deputies to search their home. Nothing suspicious was found.
The information collected in the investigation was turned over to school administrators for their review.
No further details about either incident are currently available.
