A 18 year-old from Florida was arrested on Sunday after he posted images of himself claiming to be heavily armed and was heading to the “nearest school,” local authorities said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Corey Anderson was arrested Sunday at a home after notifying authorities of an online threat while posting photos of himself with what appeared to be a rifle, pistol, and tactical vest.
“Hey Siri. Directions to the nearest school”, was what was written in the description of the photo of Anderson, indicated the authorities.
However, investigations revealed that the pistol and rifle were airsoft, which fire pellets instead of bullets.
“This type of threat is unacceptable. This man intentionally struck fear into our community as a sick joke, but be warned, this is no laughing matter,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement released Sunday. the statement that law enforcement officers will be in charge of pursuing anyone who makes threats at the school.
“Protecting students is our highest priority,” Chronister stressed. “We take school threats very seriously. If you see anything suspicious, please contact us immediately.”
As a result of his actions, Anderson was charged with threatening to carry out a mass shooting or act of terrorism. His bond was set at $7,500 dollars, but by Monday morning he was out of custody, jail records show.
These events occur one day after a Florida boy aged 10 allegedly threatened by text message with carrying out a mass shooting at his school. The identity of the boy, who is in fifth grade at Patriot Elementary School, was not released.
The recent threats in Florida come after last Tuesday an armed man entered a primary school in the city of Uvalde, Texas, and killed 19 fourth grade students and two teachers. The author was identified as Salvador Ramos, aged 18, who was killed by the authorities.
With information from the New York Post