UF police arrest P.K. Yonge teen for bomb threat against school

University of Florida Police Department (UFPD) patrol vehicle.
Photo by C.J. Gish

University of Florida police arrested a 13-year-old P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School student on Thursday for a social media post that was perceived as a bomb threat to the school.

According to a University of Florida Police Department (UFPD) release, the student was charged with one count of written threat to kill or injure, which is a felony charge in Florida. He was also charged with one count of false report about planting a bomb or explosive device and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

The social media post was sent on Thursday evening with the threat to “bomb the school.” It was seen by several peers who reported it to the school. UFPD officers and investigators, with the help of P.K. Yonge administrators, identified the suspect.

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The student who posted the social media threat told UFPD officers that he had no intent to harm anyone at P.K. Yonge and had not considered how people would react to the perceived threat.

The teenager was taken to the Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

UFPD Chief Bart Knowles thanked those involved for swiftly reporting the incident to ensure the safety and security of the school. 

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