PORT ST. JOE, Fla.—The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) has arrested a teenager in connection with two threatening phone calls made to Port St. Joe High School (PSJHS) early Tuesday morning, forcing a major school disruption.
Braden Wayne Jamal Thomas, 16, of Port St. Joe, was arrested and charged for the incident.
Details of the Threat and Response
The threats were received by the front office at approximately 7:40 AM as students were arriving for the school day.
- First Call: The caller told staff, “I’m going to shoot up the school today. If you open school, I’m going to shoot ’em all up.”
- Second Call: Immediately following the first, the caller warned, “If there are any students in the school I will kill them all. If they come I will kill all of them.”
In response, PSJHS was immediately placed on lockdown, and due to its proximity, Port St. Joe Elementary School was also placed on lockdown.
Deputies from the GCSO, along with officers from the Port St. Joe Police Department and the FWC, quickly responded to secure both campuses. Students, faculty, and staff were safely evacuated, transported to a designated reunification site, and reunited with their parents or guardians.
Sheriff Mike Harrison praised the quick resolution, stating, “The diligent work of Investigators to track down, locate, and arrest the caller brought this to a closure.”
Charges and Community Warning
Thomas was booked into the Gulf County Detention Facility and is currently held at the Bay Regional Juvenile Detention Center. He faces serious charges:
- False Report of Use of Firearms in a Violent Manner (2nd degree Felony)
- Interfering with School Administration Function (2nd degree Misdemeanor)
Sheriff Harrison emphasized the gravity of the threats: “These threats disrupted our entire school district, impacted families, and created unnecessary fear… Threats of violence will not be tolerated.” The GCSO encouraged parents to speak with their children about the serious, life-altering consequences of making threats of violence, regardless of intent.
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