A 13-year-old student at Pacetti Bay Middle School was arrested after deputies say he brought a fake explosive device onto campus and showed it to other students.
According to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Youth Services Unit deputies learned that the student, identified as Raylan Lafferty, brought the hoax device to school and deliberately hid it from school administrators. The device was later located by staff inside the school gym.
Law enforcement responded, determined the device was not a real explosive, and took Lafferty into custody. He was transported to the St. Johns County Jail and charged under Florida Statute 790.165 for planting a hoax bomb. Authorities emphasized that the case remains an active investigation.
Sheriff Rob Hardwick said threats or acts involving fake explosive devices or mass violence will not be tolerated, noting that the sheriff’s office has full-time threat assessment deputies trained to investigate these situations and protect students and staff. Officials said the incident was quickly reported, allowing law enforcement to respond promptly and confirm there was no ongoing threat to the school.
No injuries were reported, and school officials worked closely with deputies throughout the investigation. The sheriff’s office urged parents to speak with their children about the seriousness of making threats or bringing fake weapons or devices to school, stressing that even hoaxes carry serious criminal consequences.
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