Who is Corey Anderson? Florida teen, 18, arrested for posing with guns, looking for 'nearest school'
LUTZ, FLORIDA: Corey Anderson, an 18-year-old in Florida has been arrested and charged with a felony after he posted a photo of a rifle, handgun, and tactical vest online and captioned the image: 'Hey Siri, directions to the nearest school'. Anderson, who is from Lutz, 15 miles north of Tampa, was arrested on Sunday, May 29. However, the weapons were later discovered to be airsoft guns.
He was charged with a written or electronic threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism. On the basis of the charges, Anderson could face 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of making a threat of a mass shooting. "This type of threat is unacceptable. This man intentionally instilled fear into our community as a sick joke, but be warned, this is no laughing matter," said Chad Chronister, sheriff of Hillsborough County. "We will do everything within our power to apprehend, and pursue charges on those who make school-based threats. Protecting students is our greatest priority. We take school threats very seriously, if you see something suspicious, please contact us immediately", he added.
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Chronister also shared some pictures on Twitter and wrote,"At @HillsboroughSch Mort Elem this morning in addition to enhanced uniformed presence at schools throughout
@HillsboroughFL, to reassure parents that campuses are safe and there is no greater priority than ensuring the safety of children, teachers, and staff on school campuses."
At @HillsboroughSch Mort Elem this morning in addition to enhanced uniformed presence at schools throughout @HillsboroughFL, to reassure parents that campuses are safe and there is no greater priority than ensuring the safety of children, teachers, and staff on school campuses. pic.twitter.com/BS3b5Xq3X2
— Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) May 27, 2022
It was unclear whether Anderson was still being held on May 30. Anderson's mom, however, claims that media reports are inaccurate but refused to point out what she meant by it. She, further added that as a result of this arrest, her family is now receiving threats and has hired an attorney. “Beyond that there is no comment. We are getting threats at this time, it’s very scary, very scary,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Hillsborough Sheriff has urged parents to sit down with their children to talk to them about the issue. “Parents, we’re asking you to sit down and talk to your kids about making threats against schools, teachers or other students. Let them know there are other ways to release their frustration and even if they don’t mean it, making a threat is serious, they could get arrested and end up with a felony on their record. One mistake can effect your entire life,” he said.
Before Anderson's arrest, a 10-year-old boy, Daniel Issac Marquez in Florida was detained on the same charges, after allegedly threatening a mass shooting at his elementary school. Marquez was charged with making a written threat to conduct a mass shooting after sending a text about Patriot Elementary School in Cape Coral.
According to his arrest report, the boy's text read, "I scammed my friend. I bought this" and included a Google image of money and four assault rifles. Marquez then stated: 'Get ready for water day,' referencing a recent school-sponsored event. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno described "Get ready" to commit a mass shooting. "We don't wait one second. We investigate every threat as if it's real. Every single threat is real. Every threat is real until you prove not," Marceno said.
He also warned anyone who attempts a school shooting: "You don't get to come into one of my schools in my county and present deadly force. Because we meet deadly force with delay force, without one second, without hesitation. If you think you're going to come and kill a child or a faculty member, think again. We will kill you immediately."
All these threats are coming after 19 children and two teachers were murdered by an 18-year-old gunman in Uvalde, Texas.