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12-Year-Old Arrested

For Immediate Release : Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Release Number: 19-332

Date

Location

Details:

ARRESTED:
Emma Acebedo
DOB: 12/12/06
Charge: Written threat to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct mass shooting or
act of terrorism

On August 22, 2019, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a student at Barrington Middle School approached a School Resource Deputy (SRD) about a SnapChat post mentioning a school threat.

Deputies learned the SnapChat was posted by Emma Acebedo, a Burns Middle School student. The post referenced an intention to carry out a school shooting. The post stated: "Dear bms students I will be shooting that skool [sic] up September 3 2019 be ready say your goodbyes to you're [sic] family because that is finel [sic]...Goodluck (; be ready". The SRD at Burns Middle School was notified immediately. Acebedo, a 7th grader, admitted to sending and later intentionally deleting the Snapchat.
 
"The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office takes all school threats, verbal, written or posted to social media, very seriously," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We have a zero-tolerance policy.  It is important for parents to know what their children are posting online. If you make a school threat, of any kind, you will be arrested and charged accordingly."
 
Acebedo is now facing a felony charge of making a written threat.