A 12-year-old middle school student was arrested last week for making a written threat using Snapchat. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office (HCSO), Emma Acebedo, 12, a 7th grade student at Burns Middle School in Brandon, FL posted on Snapchat:
“Dear bms students I will be shooting that skool [sic] up September 3 2019 be ready say your goodbyes to you’re [sic] family because that is finel [sic]…Goodluck (; be ready”.
On August 22, 2019, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a student at Barrington Middle School approached a School Resource Deputy (SRD) about the Snapchat threat. The SRD at Burns Middle School was notified immediately. Acebedo admitted to sending and later intentionally deleting the Snapchat.
“The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office takes all school threats, verbal, written or posted to social media, very seriously,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We have a zero-tolerance policy. It is important for parents to know what their children are posting online. If you make a school threat, of any kind, you will be arrested and charged accordingly.”
Acebedo is now facing a felony charge of making a written threat.
