Middle school student arrested on written threat charge after Storm Grove lockdown, search

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY −An 11-year-old was arrested the day after a lockdown and search of a middle school following the discovery of a "suspicious note" with details of a possible bomb on campus.

The roughly two-hour ordeal led to what law enforcement authorities said was a "person of interest," who was questioned by detectives after Storm Grove Middle School students were allowed to leave their classrooms when "code yellow" lockdown was lifted Wednesday.

The girl was arrested Thursday on a warrant with a single charge of making written or electronic threats to kill; do bodily harm or injury; conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism, said Indian River County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Jaworski.

No actual threats were found during the search of the school following the discovery of the note, which was said to be stuck between two lockers with a corner of paper exposed saying 'read me.'

The note, Jaworski said, hinted that there "could be a bomb on campus."

The discovery spurred a security increase and search of the school, during which time students were held inside classrooms from roughly 10 a.m. to noon.

The sixth grade student had no plan to commit the act, Jaworski said, but he said she admitted to writing ... and placing the note.

"This student mentioned to another student, basically saying, 'I wonder if this (lockdown) is about the note I wrote,'" he said.

The child will go to juvenile court on the single felony charge, Jaworski said, with "no prior offenses."

A spokesperson with the school district could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday evening for questions about the district's response to the arrest.

On Wednesday a message was sent to parents and guardians of the school's students with notice of the lockdown because of the "suspicious letter."

At the time, school district spokesperson Cristen Maddux said there was an ongoing investigation into the matter.

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Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Storm Grove Middle School student arrested on written threat charge