Deputies charge Crestview youth with threatening another student

SHALIMAR — Okaloosa deputies have charged a 12-year-old homeschooled Crestview resident with sending a threat to kill or do bodily injury to another student living in Hillsborough County.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a notification from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office that a post showing a collection of guns and ammunition allegedly was sent to a teen there with the caption, "Many guns to die from," and another post stating, "So you want to die?"

According to an OCSO media release, authorities traced the posts to a Crestview youth who allegedly sent them through an online school portal for the Florida Cyber Charter Academy.

The release stated the defendant allegedly admitted to sending the messages, and said he was just trying to "be funny" and was trying to stick up for a girl that was being bullied in his class by the recipient of the threats. Authorities arrested the 12-year-old Feb. 22 at his home.

Writing threats to kill or do bodily injury is a felony offense.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Deputies charge Crestview youth with threatening another student