Police: Melbourne teen uses Twitter to request threat to get out of taking test

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Police said a Melbourne High School student used a threat of school violence to get out of a test, and he used Twitter to pull off the hoax.

The alleged threats ranged from bombs, to a knife, to a possible gunman.

Investigators said they’ve identified a teenager connected to at least one of the threats, but he’s not the one who made the calls.

Police said he’s a student who tweeted a request that a threat be called in.

Since the April 15 incident, which forced an evacuation of the school, police said there have been more threats, about someone with weapons at the school.

Investigators believe the threatening calls were not limited to Melbourne High School, and that their primary suspect, who is not from the Melbourne area, has been making threatening calls all across the country.

A week after the initial bomb threat, there was another call about an individual with a knife. The last two threats involved a phony gunman.

WFTV learned the alleged hoax caller made threats around the country, including one that locked down four schools in West Melbourne.

“It’s just become a big joke to everyone now. Everybody is laughing at it and following it on Twitter,” said student Alona Crigger.

Investigators said the 18-year-old communicated with the hoax caller via Twitter and told him to call in a threat Wednesday because he wasn’t prepared for a test.

They said the teen admitted communicating over Twitter, but said he never asked anyone to call a threat in to his school.

“I talk to the kid every day. He’s an honors student. He’s quiet and reserved,” said student Aja Matte.

Police said the teen will be charged with disruption of school, which is a misdemeanor.

The caller, once arrested, will face more serious charges.

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