Pasco sheriff seeks identity of boy making threat against high school

Pasco sheriff seeks identity of masked boy with gun

By Ronnie Blair | Tribune Staff
Published: November 5, 2014
Updated: November 5, 2014 at 05:47 PM

LAND O’ LAKES — The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is investigating a possible threat to Land O’ Lakes High School after someone sent the school a photo Wednesday morning of a partially masked teenage boy holding a gun, school district and sheriff’s officials reported.

The photo, apparently sent as a screen grab from an unknown person in California, included a message about shooting up the school on Friday, said Linda Cobbe, a spokeswoman for the Pasco County School District.

“There was no way of identifying when it was written or whether it was our Land O’ Lakes High,” Cobbe said.

Regardless, law enforcement officials began investigating, circulating the photo among administrators and staff at the school, some of whom thought they recognized the boy in the photo, Cobbe said.

If they are correct about the identity, the boy is not a Land O’ Lakes High student, Cobbe said, although she would not say which school he attends.

“Deputies are probably paying him a visit right now,” she said.

Cobbe said, depending on what happens with the investigation, extra deputies likely will be at Land O’ Lakes High on Thursday, with controlled access to the campus.

Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office also posted the photo on its Facebook page, asking the public’s help in identifying him and Assistant Principal Rich Batchelor recorded an automated call that went out to parents about 3 p.m. letting them know about the situation and assuring them there will be a heightened law enforcement presence on campus.

Here’s the transcript of that call:
“Hello. This is Mr. Batchelor calling from Land O’ Lakes High School.

We want parents to know that we are investigating a threat made against a Land O’ Lakes High School. We have not confirmed that it’s even directed at our school.

“The threat indicates that someone may be planning a violent act on Friday, so we are working with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office to identify the source of the threat. We do have a photo of a possible suspect that we are working to identify.

“The sheriff’s office has posted it on their Facebook page, which has proven successful in generating tips that result in arrests. Feel free to visit the sheriff’s Facebook page to view the photo, and contact the sheriff’s office if you recognize the face.

“The safety of our students is of utmost importance. We will have requested a heightened law enforcement presence. Please rest assured that we are doing everything we can to resolve this issue before Friday, and we will keep parents informed of our progress and plan of action. Thank you.”

rblair@tampatrib.com
(813) 371-1853
Twitter: @RBlairTBO

http://tbo.com/pasco-county/pasco-sh...hool-20141105/