Florida Teen Arrested After Allegedly Making Threats to Port St. Joe High School
A 16- time-old pupil from Port St. Joe has been taken into guardianship after allegedly making violent threats against his original high school, causing major fear and a full lockdown on Tuesday morning.
The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office verified the arrest of Braden Wayne Jamal Thomas, a Port St. Joe occupant, following two intimidating phone calls made to Port St. Joe High School( PSJHS) shortly before classes began.
The first call reportedly came in around 7:40 a.m., as students were arriving on campus. “I’m going to shoot up the school today. If you open school, I’m going to shoot ’em all up.”
A second call followed moments later, repeating the chilling threat. “If there are any students in the school, I will kill them all. If they come, I will kill all of them.”
Within a twinkling, both Port St. Joe High School and the nearby Port St. Joe Elementary School were placed on lockdown. Authorities acted presto.
Deputies from the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Port St. Joe Police Department, and agents with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission( FWC) rushed to the scene.
The premises were snappily secured while scholars and staff were attended to safety. Parents were directed to a designated reunification point, where scholars were safely collected.
Sheriff Mike Harrison praised the swift teamwork that led to the arrest, saying: “The diligent work of Investigators to track down, locate, and arrest the caller brought this to a close.”
Thomas was booked into the Gulf County Detention Facility before being transferred to the Bay Regional Juvenile Detention Center. He now faces multiple charges, including:
- False Report of Use of Firearms in a Violent Manner (second-degree felony)
- Interfering with School Administration Function (second-degree misdemeanor)
The Sheriff didn’t mince words about the seriousness of the situation. “These threats disrupted our entire school district, impacted families, and created unnecessary fear… Threats of violence will not be tolerated.”
Local families have been shaken by the incident, with many expressing concern over how easily fear can spread in a school setting. Authorities are urging parents to speak with their children about the severe and lasting impact of making such threats, even as a “joke.”
The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office reiterated its stance that all threats, regardless of intent, will be treated as real until proven otherwise.
