GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A 14-year-old student at Lincoln Middle School has been arrested after allegedly posting an online threat to carry out a school shooting, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.
Deputies received a tip about an Instagram post in which the suspect, identified as Jaden Symonette, allegedly threatened to shoot multiple students in retaliation for a prior altercation. Investigators determined the post was linked to Symonette’s social media handle.
Symonette admitted to writing the post but told law enforcement he deleted it within minutes. He also stated he had not been involved in any fights at school but was being bothered by other students.
Symonette has been charged with making a written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or terrorism act.