Jacksonville, Florida: Landmark Middle School Student Arrested After Threat Involving the School

A Landmark Middle School student in Jacksonville was arrested in connection with a threat involving the school, Duval County Public Schools confirmed on Tuesday, Nov. 10, Action News Jax reported. News4JAX also reported the arrest, listing the story as a Landmark Middle School student arrested after a school shooting threat. The reports did not name the student, and no name is published here.

Principal Vontrena Myers told families that Duval County School Police were investigating reports that a student made a verbal threat involving violence at the school, and that the post involved was removed. In a follow-up message, Myers said a student was arrested following an investigation into a threat to involve the school in a shooting, and that multiple tips submitted through Fortify Florida helped School Police identify the student quickly.

What the school told families

In her first message, Myers said every threat is addressed and taken seriously, School Police were continuing their investigation, and the school's threat assessment procedures had been activated. She said the school would continue to have enhanced safety measures on campus, in addition to its weapons detection system and existing safety protocols.

In the second message, Myers said threatening statements are never dismissed as a prank or a joke. "These situations are addressed with the strongest school disciplinary consequences possible and, when warranted, as a criminal matter," she said. The school district made the same point in its own statement, saying "threatening statements are not treated as a prank or joke and may result in both school disciplinary consequences and criminal charges when appropriate."

Tips through Fortify Florida

Myers credited the tips that came in through Fortify Florida. The tool is described in the Action News Jax report as a suspicious activity reporting tool that lets a person instantly relay information to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials. The link is also posted on the Duval County Public Schools website for anonymous reporting.

Myers asked parents to use the case as an opportunity to talk with their students about the seriousness of making threats, and about the importance of reporting anything concerning at once to a trusted adult or through Fortify Florida. "See Something, Say Something remains one of our best methods of keeping our campuses secure," she said in the first message.

The reports did not say that any weapon was found, that anyone was hurt, or what specific charge the student faces. They also did not say whether classes or campus operations changed beyond the enhanced safety measures Myers described. What is confirmed is the arrest itself, confirmed by the school district on Tuesday, the School Police investigation, and the role that the Fortify Florida tips played in identifying the student.