CLAY COUNTY – A 14-year-old and a mother of an elementary student were arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 13, by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office following brief investigations.

Ahmon Laster, a student at Bannerman Learning Center, was charged with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner after he claimed to be his older brother, who was going to take a gun to Clay High to shoot classmates on Wednesday.

Sierra Nichole Bronner, 39, of Middleburg, was charged with child neglect and being a parent and allowing the unlawful possession of a firearm when she packed a handgun in her daughter’s backpack before she went to school at Coppergate Elementary.

Sheriff Michelle Cook said Laster was mad at his older brother, and he made the threat to Clay High in an attempt to get his brother in trouble. She said Bronner put the gun in her daughter’s backpack to give it to her father, who does not live with the mother and the daughter, when he drove her to school. Apparently, the daughter had forgotten, and when she arrived at school and found the gun, she informed her teacher.

“At the end of the day, it's our job to keep kids safe,” Cook said. “That is our No. 1 priority, and we will not stop doing that. I received numerous phone calls, emails, text messages, and inquiries. These investigations take time, and we wanted to do them right, but I want you all to know that your kids are safe. We're going to keep them safe.

“Please, again, encourage your students not to make false threats, because they can be arrested. They will be arrested. And then, also make sure to be aware of what our kids are taking to the school grounds.”

The school day started when CCSO was alerted by Florida Fortify about a threat to Clay High about a student who planned to shoot students, facility and staff. The school was placed on “secured” status, which is short of lockdown, Cook said. That means students could move from class to class, but they weren’t allowed to wander around the campus.

The student had a younger brother at Bannerman, so that school was also placed on "secured" status. Neither student was at school, and detectives interviewed both at their home.

“We discovered that the younger brother was mad at his older brother,” Cook said. “The younger brother created a fake text string back and forth about bringing a gun to school.”

She said he sent a string of texts to get his older brother in trouble.

Coppergate was also placed in a “secure” status when the child told her teacher she had a gun.

“It’s crucial that parents know what their children are bringing to school before they leave home. Look in their backpacks, ask questions and have conversations on what’s appropriate to bring to school,” Cook said. “In this specific case, this was a poor decision and could’ve ended in tragedy. I’m grateful for our partnership with Clay County District Schools and applaud our school resource deputies and detectives for their work to keep our students safe.”

Bronner’s bond was $50,006.