CRESTVIEW, Fla., Nov. 8, 2024—A Crestview middle school student was arrested yesterday after telling his friend that he planned to bring weapons to school to kill two students who were bullying him.
The friend relayed the information to an adult. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office notified the Okaloosa County School District of the text message threat made against two students.
Upon receiving this report, the sheriff’s office and school district immediately launched an investigation and found text messages from 12-year-old Matthew Jonathan Smith indicating he planned to bring a knife and/or gun to Shoal River Middle school because two students were continually bullying him over various issues.
When deputies talked to Smith he admitted he sent the texts and had thoughts of harming others.
Smith is now charged with making a written or electronic threat of a mass shooting.
Sheriff Eric Aden praised the bravery of the friend who came forward to tell a family member about the contents of the conversation so it could be reported to authorities and prevent the possibility of violence.
“His actions are a prime example of how the concept of ‘See Something, Say Something’ can work to keep our schools and communities safer,” he said.
The Okaloosa County School District enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy for any threats against students, staff or school campuses.
Whether real, false or perceived, all violations of the district’s student code of conduct are treated with the utmost seriousness. This policy is in place to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff, which remains our top priority.
All threats are taken seriously and actions that compromise the security and well-being of our students, staff, and school communities will not be tolerated.
OCSO and OCSD release
Holt Enterprise News 
The kid who was arrested shouldn’t have made the threats. On the other hand, what is being done to the students who were tormenting him? Perhaps bringing those students and parents in and explaining what could have happened to them due to their actions in tormenting this young man, hopefully, would get the attention of the parents and put a stop to this kind of behavior. It’s not the school’s fault that this scenario occurred. It is the fault of the kids who thought they could do whatever they wanted to regardless of the effect on the tormented child. You can only push ppl just so far before the eruption occurs.
I am a realist tho, and the most likely situation is for the parents to protect their little angels. Personally, I think we need cameras everywhere in schools. That way, parents and police can see what little spawns of Satan some of these kids are!
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