PALM COAST, Fla. — A 16-year-old girl is accused of repeatedly using Florida’s school safety reporting system to make false threats that prompted law enforcement responses across Flagler County.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said investigators connected the Palm Coast teenager to several reports submitted through FortifyFL between Aug. 13 and Sept. 15.
FortifyFL allows students and members of the public to anonymously report suspicious activity involving schools.
Deputies said one tip submitted Aug. 13 claimed that one of the teenager’s siblings had a firearm and had been instructed to open fire inside the lunchroom at Rymfire Elementary School.
Investigators traced the report to a device at the teenager’s home, according to the sheriff’s office.
While detectives were at the residence interviewing her mother, another FortifyFL report warned that someone planned to attack Flagler Palm Coast High School. Deputies responded to the school and determined the threat was a hoax.
Investigators said the second report also originated from the teenager’s home and was submitted from another device while detectives were speaking with her mother.
Detectives served a search warrant at the home Aug. 19 and seized several electronic devices. The sheriff’s office said a forensic examination confirmed that the teenager’s cellphone had been used to submit FortifyFL reports.
Deputies received another report Sept. 14 alleging that the teenager planned to kill members of her family, burn down her home and attack someone at her school.
Investigators said the teenager denied submitting the report and claimed she did not have access to electronic devices. Detectives said they traced the threat back to her.
The teenager was taken into custody Sept. 16 at the Palm Coast Landings shopping center.
She faces charges of unlawful use of a two-way communication device and making a false report involving a bomb, explosive, weapon of mass destruction or the violent use of a firearm.
The teenager was processed at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility before being transferred to the Volusia Family Resource Center and placed in the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
Channel 9 contacted the sheriff’s office to determine whether the teenager had been charged as an adult.
Officials confirmed that she has been charged as a juvenile and that her case is currently proceeding in delinquency court. The sheriff’s office said it does not know whether that could change.
Any decision to transfer the case into the adult court system would be made by the State Attorney’s Office, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Rick Staly said the investigation has required more than 300 hours of work.
“This girl repeatedly and dangerously abused a tool that students, parents and the community rely on to help keep our schools safe,” Staly said.
Detectives are investigating additional false reports dating to October 2025 that they believe may be connected to the teenager. The sheriff’s office is also assisting other agencies investigating swatting incidents targeting schools and residents outside Flagler County.
Additional charges could be filed as those investigations continue.
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