Photos for Headline Surfer / Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith is shown along with a cache of replica guns seized from a teen who threatened to shoot up Seminole High School.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
SANFORD, Fla. -- Sanford Police Investigators have arrested a 17-year-old student in connection with online threats to shoot up a school.
Headline Surfer is withholding the student's name and mugshot because of his age.
Here is a synopsis of what led to the teen's arrest as described by Sanford Police: On March 8, 2025, cops were notified of an anonymous tip line submission regarding a video of an unknown teenager hreatening to shoot up Seminole High School. The video pictured him with multiple guns, vests, and other items of concern.
Upon receiving the information, Sanford investigators and other law enforcement partners immediately began working to ascertain the identity of the unknown male in the video, according to a press release emailed to Headline Surfer.
The next day, the teen, enrolled in Elevation High School, a local public charter school, was positively identified as the individual making threats in the video. He was located at his residence and taken into custody without incident. The 17-year-old boy was charged with felony Intimidation Written/Electronic Threat of Mass Shooting/Terrorism Act.
Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith credited investigators with his agency and other law enforcement partners law with “the swift identification and arrest" of the teen.
"This fast action and teamwork most likely prevented a tragedy and saved multiple lives," the police chief said. "We are thankful for the assistance of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Gang and Habitual Offender Suppression Team (GHOST) and Crime Analyst Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Seminole County Public Schools.”
"This fast action and teamwork most likely prevented a tragedy and saved multiple lives," Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said of the teen's felony arrest. "We are thankful for the assistance of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Gang and Habitual Offender Suppression Team (GHOST) and Crime Analyst Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Seminole County Public Schools.”
Photo for Headline Surfer / Seminole County Schools Superintendent Serita Beamon (shown here) was pleased with the police work in averting a threatening situation with an arrest.
Seminole County Schools Superintendent Serita Beamon said she was "thankful for the collaborative work and relentless dedication of all the agencies involved in bringing this incident to a conclusion."
She added: "The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and we will continue to take any potential threat seriously and act quickly.”
Sanford Poilice Investigators are asking anyone with additional information to please call the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimeline.org. Calls made to Crimeline remain anonymous.
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