Eleven Stitches: The Injury That Preceded False Shooting Threats

A 17-year-old student required 11 stitches after an attack near Harmony High School, an incident that preceded a series of false shooting threats against the school’s football team.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the game between Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School would proceed on Friday night, October 23. Authorities expanded the security presence after investigating the threats and finding them to be ungrounded. The additional officers were scheduled to work alongside K-9 units and mounted patrol officers. Members of the St. Cloud Police Department were also assigned to the site.

The threats began after nine students were arrested in connection with the earlier assault. Sheriff’s officials stated they received a tip on Thursday night claiming a shooting would occur at the game. By Friday morning, text messages containing the same threat had spread through the school community. Investigators reviewed the initial tip and the subsequent messages, concluding that neither threat was genuine.

Investigators noted that the person responsible for the false threats attributed them to the injured teenager. Officials determined that specific claim was also false. As of Friday, the sheriff’s office had not identified the source of the threats or established any connection between the threat-maker and the injured student.

The original attack took place on October 16. Several students allegedly assaulted the 17-year-old, who was transported to a hospital. Authorities linked the beating to a lunch period incident where the student intervened in a group throwing carrots at another girl. Nine students, ages 14 to 18, were arrested on October 21. They face charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot.

OCSO Captain Kim Montes stated that the false reports could lead to criminal charges. “False reports of a shooting will not be tolerated and if the suspect is identified, that person will be charged,” Montes said.

The game was scheduled to start on time Friday evening. The source of the threats remained unknown as the security teams took their positions.