A 12-year-old Florida girl has been arrested after authorities say she posted a detailed, multi-step plan online outlining a mass shooting at her middle school.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood announced the arrest, stating that the student allegedly created and shared a 13-point plan targeting Southwestern Middle School. According to investigators, the plan described when to arrive on campus, where to meet a friend who was allegedly expected to assist, and what time the shooting would begin. It also named specific individuals, including a teacher who had reportedly given the girl a failing grade and several students she intended to target.
The sheriff’s office received an anonymous tip on February 22 alerting them to the online post. Although the original content had been removed by the time deputies began investigating, comments and a username remained visible. Authorities traced the IP address associated with the post to a home in DeLand, where the 12-year-old student lived.
Under Florida law, the sheriff publicly identified the girl because she was charged with felony offenses. However, some media outlets have declined to publish her name due to her age. She faces charges of making written threats to kill and misusing a two-way communications device.
Investigators confirmed that the individuals mentioned in the alleged plan were connected to the school. Deputies interviewed the teacher referenced in the post to determine which students had recently received failing grades. The 12-year-old was among those who had. Authorities also spoke with classmates, including a student who acknowledged that the girl had been bullied. The classmate reportedly described her as “kind of weird” and admitted that students sometimes made comments about those perceived as different.
Sheriff Chitwood said the plan indicated that the girl intended to take her own life after carrying out the attack and that it was not the first time she had made threats involving a school shooting. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, deputies reported that no weapons were found during a search of her home.
Even so, Chitwood expressed concern about how easily minors can access firearms. He pointed to two additional incidents in Florida over the same weekend involving children and guns, suggesting a broader societal issue. While he acknowledged the pattern of troubling cases, he did not offer a specific solution, instead stating that “somewhere along the line we’re missing the boat.”
Authorities also questioned the friend who was allegedly mentioned in the plan as a potential accomplice. That student identified the 12-year-old as the person responsible for the online post.
When initially confronted by deputies, the girl denied creating the plan. Investigators say she later admitted to drafting and posting it.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about school safety, online threats, and the impact of bullying on young students. Law enforcement officials emphasized that all threats are taken seriously, particularly when they involve detailed planning and named targets. The investigation remains ongoing as the case moves through the juvenile justice system.
