1 Arrested As Police Investigate 2 School Threats in South Florida
Miami, Florida: A social media threat targeting a middle school in southwest Miami-Dade caused panic among parents and students on Thursday night. The threat, posted on Instagram, showed an image resembling a firearm with a message warning students not to attend Lamar Louise Curry Middle School. This prompted swift action from authorities, resulting in one person being arrested on Friday morning. Another local high school also received a similar threat.
The Social Media Threats
The Instagram post that alarmed the community included a photo of what appeared to be a firearm and a message that read, “Don’t go to school tmr llcms,” referring to Lamar Louise Curry Middle School. The threat led to immediate concern among parents, with one mother deciding not to send her child to school. “As a parent, we got to decide whether we send it to school when there’s a threat and risk it that something happens or deal with a school absence,” she said. “I’d rather deal with a school absence than lose my child.”
In response to the threat, the school’s principal issued a recorded message to parents and students, assuring them that the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department was informed and investigating the matter. The principal emphasized the seriousness of any threats against schools, no matter the size, and reminded the community of the legal consequences for those involved in such actions.
Arrest and Investigation
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) released a statement following the arrest, thanking the school administration and police for their swift investigation. “M-DCPS became aware of a social media threat involving Lamar Louise Curry Middle School. With the help of school administration, Miami-Dade Schools Police immediately investigated and made an arrest,” the statement read.
Officials urged parents to talk to their children about the responsible use of social media, noting that any threat—whether intended as a joke or not—can have life-altering consequences. The school district reiterated that all threats would be taken seriously, with those involved facing potential felony charges.
Coconut Creek High School, located in Broward County, also received a similar threat on social media around the same time. While it is unclear if the two incidents are connected, Coconut Creek High School increased security measures as a precaution. “As a precautionary measure, there are extra police and security personnel on our campus,” the school said. Authorities also deployed their gun detection dog to ensure the safety of the campus.
Concerns Over School Safety
The recent threats come in the wake of a tragic school shooting in Winder, Georgia, which left two students and two teachers dead. This event has heightened concerns about school safety nationwide, leaving parents across the country, including those in South Florida, on edge. One Miami mother, who chose to keep her child at home, expressed her fears about the growing dangers students face.
“Unfortunately, the kids today got to deal with so many things that we didn’t have to deal with when we were younger,” she said. “They’ve got to worry more about their safety at school instead of their education.” She also called for stronger gun control measures to keep children safe in schools. “We just got to pray that they leave the politics aside and bring gun controls… and pray that our kids come home safe every day,” she said. While classes have not been canceled at either school, both incidents serve as reminders of the ongoing challenges schools face in ensuring student safety amid the rising threat of violence.
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