Another Threat Targets Braden River High School Amid Rising Security Concerns in Manatee County Schools

Manatee County, FL – Another threat was made against Braden River High School on Thursday morning, prompting heightened security measures at the campus. The Manatee County School District confirmed the threat, just a day after three students from other schools in the county were arrested and charged with making threats to kill others.

The recent arrests come after the apprehension of a ninth grader on September 13, who made similar threats toward Manatee County schools, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

In addition to the local threats, a North Port charter school in Sarasota County was placed on lockdown Thursday morning. Police were alerted after a bus driver discovered ammunition on a bus shortly after dropping students off. The Imagine School in North Port was locked down as North Port Police investigated the incident.

Braden River High School officials responded to Thursday's threat by sending a message to parents. The message confirmed the school would be under heightened security for the day, with additional personnel from the sheriff’s office present on campus. Despite the threat, school operations continued as normal, with students required to pass through the school’s EVOLV security screening system, which uses magnetometers and video technology to detect concealed weapons.

While security measures remain in place, concerns among parents are rising. Some, like Elaine Evans, whose daughter attends Braden River High, are increasingly worried about their children's safety. Evans expressed fear over the frequency of the threats in the first six weeks of the school year, stating that her daughter was afraid to attend classes.

With many students opting to stay home due to safety concerns, Evans reported that only five students attended her daughter’s first class on Thursday morning.

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Julio Jordan-Escalona, head of the school resource officer unit, noted a pattern of increased copycat threats following high-profile school shootings. These threats, though sometimes meant as jokes, are taken seriously by law enforcement.

According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, anyone charged with written threats to kill faces a second-degree felony charge, which carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison. These charges can have long-term consequences, potentially affecting educational and employment opportunities.

Since September 5, the day after the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia, the sheriff's office has received over 250 tips about school threats via the Fortify FL app. Investigators are working on several ongoing cases, with additional arrests expected in the coming days.

With four students already arrested and one facing a capias warrant, the school district and law enforcement officials are actively working to ensure the safety of Manatee County schools amid this troubling surge in threats.