The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 16-year-old student at George Jenkins High School on Thursday, charging the student with threatening a mass shooting at the school.
Polk County Public Schools sent a message to students and parents on behalf of George Jenkins High Principal Tom Patton Thursday morning. The principal said that all students and staff were safe.
“I just wanted to let you know that George Jenkins High was briefly placed on heightened security this morning,” the message said. “Law enforcement responded to the campus of George Jenkins High due to a report of (an) individual making a verbal threat over the telephone.
“The school was placed on heightened security precaution while deputies investigated the situation. The individual has been located and is in custody.”
All school operations returned to normal after the arrest, Patton wrote.