From Staff Reports and the Apopka Police Department
A threat of a mass shooting at Apopka High School triggered a multi-agency investigation and the arrest of a 15-year-old Apopka resident.
The Apopka Police Department released the following statement about its response to the threat:
"On September 20th, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the Apopka Police Department was notified of a threat against Apopka High School during a live-streamed pep rally, where the threat was posted in the chat.
As a precaution, the school was immediately placed on hold.
The APD’s Criminal Investigations Unit and School Resource Unit promptly launched an investigation. Through the rapid investigative efforts and collaboration with the Orange County Public Schools District Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the individual responsible was quickly identified and taken into custody.
Isaiah Lester, a 15-year-old resident of Apopka, has been charged with the following:
- Felony: Written or Electronic Threats to Kill, Cause Bodily Injury, or Conduct a Mass Shooting or Act of Terrorism
- Misdemeanor: Disruption of a School Function
"The Apopka Police Department takes threats of violence seriously, and this behavior will not be tolerated," said Deputy Chief Jerome Miller. "Public safety remains our top priority, and we acted swiftly to address the threat. Thanks to the prompt actions of school staff, our dedicated School Resource Officers, the Criminal Investigations Division, the Orange County Public Schools District Police, and our federal partners, we were able to resolve this situation without harm to any students, faculty, or community members."
The safety of our students, teachers, and community is paramount. We want to assure the public that every measure was taken to ensure the situation was neutralized. We will continue to work with all relevant agencies to maintain a safe and secure environment for all.
"I want to thank the Apopka Police Department for their quick response. They, along with all of our law enforcement partners, work tirelessly to investigate each and every report of a threat," said OCPS District Police Chief Bryan Holmes. "Today’s arrest is proof that social media threats or any threat against a school or student will not be tolerated. We will continue to encourage anyone who sees something to say something, notify a trusted adult, and report it to law enforcement through Fortify FL. We urge everyone not to forward or repost any threat you see and immediately report it. There are serious consequences for those that forward or repost a threat through text or social media."
This is breaking news and may be updated in future editions of The Apopka Voice.
The threat was one of several similar alarming incidents in Florida, including two in Seminole County.
