Education

More than 900 students absent from Orange County schools named in threats

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — More than 900 students at four Orange County schools were absent Thursday following threats made online by a transient with a history of mental illness, officials said.

The search continues for the man who is accused of making several threats via social media to various schools in Orange County, including Boone, Edgewater, Colonial high schools and Liberty Middle School.

An Instagram posting made to our Channel 9’s account is one of many threats made against students in Orange County.

One post read, “Going to put a pipe bomb in Boone High School.”

Authorities said the account, along with ones used to make threats on Facebook and Twitter, belong to 23-year-old Jesus Kong.

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Kong is believed to be a transient and mentally ill, according to investigators.

"There's been no mention, that I know of, of any sighting of Mr. Kong or any contact with him," said Jeff Williamson of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "We certainly want to speak to him to kind of get a sense of who he is, of why he wants to put these kinds of threats out there, and what his capability level may or may not be."

Kong’s criminal record includes trespassing and petty theft.

The sheriff's office put increased security in place at other unnamed schools in addition to the ones named in the threats.

Investigators said Kong is also wanted in connection with a bomb threat made against Orlando International Airport earlier in the week, but OIA officials said the threat was deemed not credible.

OIA officials said they are continually upgrading the technology used to track online threats.

Officials released this absentee rate for Thursday:

  • Boone HS: 357 (enrolled: 2845)
  • Colonial HS: still waiting on number (enrolled: 3484)
  • Edgewater HS: 174 (enrolled: 2092)
  • Liberty MS: 379 (enrolled: 1186)