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Police: Florida teen responsible for Elyria High School threats

Posted at 6:04 PM, Jul 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-17 18:04:12-04

Elyria Police have identified the person responsible for three separate "swatting" incidents in March.

Police say the suspect is a 16-year-old from Florida. He is accused of false reports concerning a bomb, an explosive or a weapon of mass destruction, or concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner.

On March 22, a call was made to Lorain County Emergency Management Office with a report that student was barricaded in a restroom at Elyria High School armed with a weapon and propane bombs. The caller said he intended to cause mass casualties at the school.

RELATED: Students at Elyria High School released early after reported threat

On March 29, Elyria Police received a call that there was a bomb inside a trash container outside of Elyria High School.

RELATED: Charges dropped in Elyria school threat case

On March 31, another call was made to Elyria Police just before Elyria High School's commencement ceremony at Ely Stadium. The caller said there was a bomb under the bleachers.

Detectives investigated and found the phone threats were coming from a 16-year-old boy in Keystone Heights, Florida. Detectives reached out to authorities there to obtain a search warrant for the teen.

On July 12, investigators from the Clay County Sheriff's Office in Florida went to the teen's house and found several laptops and other electronic devices in his room. He admitted he was responsible for all three calls at Elyria High School and at the Elyria High School graduation at Ely Stadium. He also admitted to being the leader of an online hacking group.