Threatening Snapchat message investigated, cleared

Sheriff’s detectives say they have found no credible threat involved in a Snapchat message circulating amongst Key West High School students.

Investigators say they received information today about a Snapchat message circulating showing two Key West High School students holding guns – that turned out to be fake stage props – with a message that says “ No one go to school on Monday”.

Working together with Key West Police and school authorities, they found the identities of the two teens in the picture – two 15 years olds, one from Key Haven and one from Big Pine Key. Detectives contacted the parents of the two boys. All parties involved were cooperative. The two boys and their parents met with detectives.

When interviewed,  both boys said they took a “selfie” while at a rehearsal at Key West Theater holding prop guns and sent it out on Snapchat. They said an acquaintance of theirs then did a “screenshot” of the photo and added the threatening message at the top. That third party then re-posted the photo on Snapchat with the threatening message on it.

Both boys said they never intended the photo to be threatening to the school or to their classmates.

Detectives questioned the boy’s parents to make sure the boys did not have access to any real firearms and are satisfied they do not. Detectives also made contact with the theater manager and made sure he completed an inventory of all the prop firearms. All of the prop firearms are accounted for. The manager said the boys did not have permission to enter the room where the prop firearms are kept.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the case and are working to make contact with the third teen who is actually accused of adding the threatening message to the photo. School Superintendent Mark Porter has been notified, as has Key West High School Principal Amber Acevedo. They will be reviewing the case and will determine what type of school discipline is called for.

At this time, detectives have ascertained there is no credible threat to the school or the students nor is there a need to disrupt school operations.

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