*Updated to reflect arrest of Forest High School student Shomari Akeil Clarke on multiple charges related to the social media threat to Marion County Public Schools.
MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE 1/19/2024 6:20 p.m.: Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) released the name of the Forest High School student arrested in connection with the threats on social media that targeted specific teachers at several schools.
They say that through their investigation, MCSO Detective Daniel Pinder and Ocala Police Detective Denise Drake found that a Snapchat social media account registered to 18-year-old Shomari Akeil Clarke was where the threats originated.
Detectives say Clarke initially lied to them when confronted and provided “shifting explanations” before admitting that he had posted the threat.
According to his MCSO arrest report, Clarke has been charged with 11 counts of Electronic Threats to Kill or Do Bodily Harm, eight counts of Sending a Written Threat to Conduct a Mass Shooting or an Act of Terrorism, one count of Using a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony, and one count of Disruption of a School Function. They say that Clarke is currently being held in the Marion County Jail with no bond.
UPDATE 1/19/2024 3:15 p.m.: Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) says law enforcement have arrested a Forest High School student in connection with a social media threat targeting specific teachers at multiple schools.
“Fortunately, law enforcement has arrested the person responsible for this morning’s threat mentioning specific teachers at specific schools… and that person is a Forest High School student who now faces serious legal consequences for their actions,” said MCPS in a Facebook post. “We appreciate your patience and cooperation to keep our schools safe for students and employees and eliminate these disruptions to everyone’s daily routine.”
UPDATE, 1/19/2024 8:45 a.m.: Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) says they are investigating new threats posted on social media overnight. This time the threats mention specific teachers at several schools.
Marion County Public Schools Public Relations Director Kevin Christian says they sent a district-wide alert to parents notifying them.
He adds that they are working with both the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department to find the person responsible.
“These disruptions are not acceptable and we are putting forth every effort to help law enforcement catch the person responsible and hold them accountable in every way possible, including arrest and convictions,” said the district in a Facebook post.
UPDATE, 1/19/2024 7:15 a.m.: The Ocala Police Department (OPD) is asking for anyone who saw Snapchat post that threatened shootings at 10 Marion County Public Schools to give them a call.
Detectives are clear to distinguish that they want to speak to adults or children who saw the original post not screenshots circulating on other social media platforms and in the community.
If you or your child saw the actual Snapchat post, you’re asked to call the lead detective at 352-369-7000.
Marion County Public Schools Public Relations Director Kevin Christian says there will be an increased law enforcement presence at MCPS schools again today as this case is investigated.
ORIGINAL, 1/18/2024: Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) says law enforcement is investigating an anonymous threat made on social media for multiple schools within the county.
MCPS Public Relations Director Kevin Christian says due to the threat, there are extra officers in addition to the School Resource Officers at some schools within the county including those named in the threat.
The posting on social intimated there would be shootings at 10 schools in the district ranging from elementary to middle to high schools.
Christian says law enforcement doesn’t believe there’s any immediate danger and that additional officers are at the schools as a precautionary measure, so they have “more eyes and ears on campus.”
MCPS says law enforcement has not yet identified where the threat came from and they are working with law enforcement to catch the person responsible for the disruption.
“We are investigating what was a very broad, social media threat,” said a spokesperson for the Ocala Police Department. “If we can determine the source of the threat, and who is responsible, there will absolutely be an arrest made.”
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