Rutherford students face felony charges for false school shooting threats

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – One student from Rutherford High School and one from Rutherford Middle School are facing felony charges Friday after allegedly making false threats about a school shooting.

Bay District School Superintendent Mark McQueen and Sheriff Tommy Ford held a joint news conference Friday afternoon regarding the two students' arrests.

This all began around 12:30 p.m. Authorities say ninth grader Daniel Mansfield told the principal he saw a student in the est room, wearing a facemask and talking about shooting up the school at 2 p.m.

They also say an eighth grader named Evan Holley sent Mansfield a text message saying "Bro, we are about to get shot up at 2 pm no joke."

As the investigation unfolded, Bay County Sheriff's officials say Mansfield admitted he didn't see anything. And they say Holly admitted he sent the text.

Both are now being charged with felonies.

"In this case, Mansfield, who is the individual who said that he saw somebody in the bathroom that said that they were going to shoot the school. That's a false report of a mass shooting. It's a it's a felony. Holly, who sent the text saying that the school's about to get shot up. We're charging him with written threats to kill," Ford said.

"These types of things are not taken lightly. They're really not. And they have incredible consequences. Particularly things like this, where there could be life-altering consequences," McQueen said.

Both Sheriff Ford and Superintendent McQueen, along with State Attorney Larry Basford just wrapped up their week-long school safety tour Friday.

Since Monday they've visited every high school and middle school in the district, warning students about the consequences of making threats or committing violent acts.

They say there will be 'zero tolerance". McQueen is asking students to report potential threats to school officials instead of posting them on social media.