Student Arrested For Threats Made On Bus

SEBRING - A 16-year-old student at the Academy at Youth Care Lane was charged Thursday with a felony count of crimes against a person by threat, as well as disturbing the peace, for allegedly saying he was going to shoot his drill instructors with a gun.

The youth, who is an expelled Sebring High School student, was reportedly starting his first day at the alternative school on Tuesday, when he allegedly made threatening comments.

An arrest report provided by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office states that several students on the youth's school bus thought the young man was joking around as he reportedly talked about shooting his drill instructors, allegedly saying that he was going to kill them while he was at lunch.

The report also states that the students became concerned, eventually telling the bus driver, who notified authorities before the start of school on Thursday.

Authorities checked the youth's bus as it arrived to the school on Thursday, but found no gun, according to the report. The search took three hours and created a disruption in school functions.

After the youth was arrested, he reportedly told authorities that he never said he was going to kill the drill instructors, allegedly saying instead that he was going to hit them with his "guns," as he reportedly pointed to his arms.

The youth allegedly made hand gestures and simulated pulling a gun trigger to the students on the bus as he reportedly described shooting the instructors, who are both deputies at the sheriff's office.

The crimes against a person charge is a third degree felony, while the disturbing the peace charge is a misdemeanor.