OAKLEAF – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested an 11-year-old fourth grader at Discovery Oaks Elementary on Tuesday, Dec. 16, after an investigation into threatening text messages made by the student with at least eight other students in an online chat group revealed Korey Harris would shoot up the school.

According to the group’s social interaction, the message circulated amongst students over the following days, resulting in a report of the incident to CCSO from an uninvolved parent on Dec. 15. CCSO conducted a criminal investigation, which included interviewing all parties involved and family members.

Harris’ cellular phone was also seized as evidence for a forensic download and a school threat assessment was conducted. Harris had a previous incident of threatening violence that was investigated last year. As a result of this investigation, Harris was arrested and transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice –Duval Detention Center. The parents/guardians of any potential victims have been notified.

Florida State Statute 836.10: Written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism makes it a second-degree felony for any person to send, post, transmit, or procure the sending, posting, or transmission of, a writing or other record, including an electronic record, in any manner in which it may be viewed by another person, when in such writing or record the person makes a threat to: (a) kill or to do bodily harm to another person, or (b) conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.

"We take every single tip received very seriously and conduct a thorough investigation. I have zero tolerance for school threats,” Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said. “Parents, please speak with your children about the consequences of making such statements. I want to thank those who came forward with this information and encourage anyone who sees or hears anything suspicious to report it immediately."