Police from the Lee County Sheriff's Office have arrested a 12-year-old boy after he allegedly threatened to blow up his school.
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Per a report by Gulf Coast News, Police arrested Brandon Barrera, 12, of Veterans Park Academy for the Arts in Lehigh Acres on Thursday. The student reportedly made a map of the campus, which included precise details of where he would place explosives.
Classmates reportedly saw Barrera working on his school map across multiple days, adding more details, including bomb and detonator locations. He allegedly titled the drawing 'Veterans Park Attack,' which also had 'Kill the United States' written on it in Arabic. Students also reportedly told police that they saw Barrera watching bomb-making tutorials on the campus.
Per Fox 4, Barrera's peers highlighted his behavior to authorities. The School Threat Enforcement Team started an investigation, quickly leading to the student's arrest.
Gulf Coast News also explains that parents received an automated message from the establishment, saying, "Good afternoon VPA families. I want to inform you that a student has been arrested for allegedly making a threat against our school."
Authorities Found A Manifesto On The Back Of The School Map
Lee County detectives reportedly found a manifesto written on the back of the map where Barrera revealed his intention to commit violent acts. They also combed through the history on his school Chromebook, where they found searches for serial killers and terrorists.
Per Fox 13, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno praised the students who highlighted Barrera's actions, saying, "I am beyond proud of the students who spoke up when they learned their peer had made violent plans. The School Threat Enforcement Team began investigating immediately and uncovered disturbing renderings to carry out a violent act inside the school. LCSO detectives will continue to investigate and leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of Lee County students."
Barrera now faces charges of written or electronic threats to conduct an act of terrorism and threats to throw, project, place, or discharge a destructive device. This incident is eerily similar to another at Houston's Memorial High School just last month. Two teenage girls allegedly planned to place pipe bombs around the campus. Authorities say the pair were plotting "a mass casualty attack."
