Charges pending against Manatee High student for social media threat

Date: September 2, 2022 

Case #: 2022-007042

Criminal charges are pending against a Manatee High School student who made a threat related to gun violence on social media.   

Late Thursday night, the FBI received an anonymous tip that a student, a junior at Manatee High School, made a veiled threat related to a school shooting on Snapchat. The FBI notified the Bradenton Police Department and officers, along with federal partners, were dispatched to the school before the start of the school day. A Bradenton Police School Resource Officer assigned to Manatee High School identified the student, who was detained before going to class. No weapons were found on the student.   

The student admits to posting, and later deleting, the threat on social media. However, all threats of this nature are taken seriously. Further information on pending charges is not available at this time. While there was no danger to Manatee High School students or staff, the Bradenton Police Department will have extra officers at the school for the end of the school day.  

The School District of Manatee County utilizes the FortifyFL app, which allows students, educators, parents and community members to report school safety concerns directly to law enforcement and school administrators immediately and anonymously. Tips can be submitted online at GetFortifyFL.com. You may also report information on this, or other cases, to the Bradenton Police Department at 941-932-9300 or BPDTips@BradentonPD.com.   

We commend the person who submitted the tip to the FBI, and continue to stress the importance of “See Something, Say Something.”