A Florida teen was arrested over the past weekend for posting a photo with guns and a message that asked for directions to the nearest school, officials announced.
Corey Anderson, 18, allegedly posted a photo with a rifle, handgun, and tactical vest along with a caption that read: “Hey Siri, directions to the nearest school.” According to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in a news release, Anderson was arrested at his Tampa home on Sunday and was charged with a written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism.
However, deputies found that the weapons in the photo were actually airsoft guns, which shoot a type of small pellet rather than bullets, according to the news release. The sheriff said that the photo was intended to be a “sick joke” following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, last week.
Records did not indicate whether he has an attorney. Anderson was booked into jail and was later released on bond, according to jail records.
Law enforcement officials in Hillsborough County will do “everything within our power” to deal with anyone who threatens schools.
“Protecting our students is our greatest priority,“ Chronister added. ”We take school threats very seriously, if you see something suspicious, please contact us immediately.”
In Texas, officials said 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde before he shot and killed 19 students and two teachers. Ramos was later killed by responding law enforcement officials, although questions remain about how long it took for officers to breach the classroom in which Ramos was located.
Meanwhile, a 10-year-old Florida boy is being investigated for allegedly threatening to commit a mass shooting at his school in Cape Coral, officials said.
“This student’s behavior is sickening, especially after the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement in reference to the 10-year-old. “Making sure our children are safe is paramount.”
