Teen arrested after posting school threats on Instagram, Lake County deputies say

Boy's father apologizes, says he's shocked

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Lake County deputies arrested on Wednesday a 14-year-old who is accused of making a threat to shoot up high schools.

Deputies said on Monday, the teen posted a comment on Instagram with a photo of an Ohio teenager charged in a deadly school shooting. The teen's caption under the picture was in reference to shooting up Lake Minneola High School and South Lake High School.

It reads: "SOMEONE BRING ME A CHARGER OR IM SHOOTING UP SOUTH LAKE HIGH SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED CLERMONT!!!"

"We're terribly sorry. I'm in shock. This is my son. He's a good-hearted person," said the teen's father, as Local 6 met the family at their home while they were having a family talk about the incident. "He's never been in trouble. He's got lots of friends. He's not on medication or anything. He thought it was amongst his friends."

Deputies said that student admitted to posting the threats, but during his interview with detectives, the teen was laughing and treated the incident like a joke.

The teen then removed the post after 15 minutes of posting it, according to the report.

Deputies said the teen does not have access to weapons.

Deputies said they charged the teen with felony written threats to kill and the teen was released from jail to his mother and placed on house arrest.

"It was a distasteful joke," said the father.