PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A TikTok video that warned of a bombing at Southport Middle School has been confirmed as a hoax, and a 14-year-old student responsible for the threat is now in custody. The video, which circulated among students and parents, included a message stating, “On Monday the 20th Southport middle Is getting bombed by me Stay home alright.” Following a surge of concerned calls to the Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) around 5:30 p.m. on October 19, an investigation was initiated.
Detectives traced the TikTok account, which used the alias “Benjamin Franklyn,” to a local IP address. Within five hours, they identified the suspect as a student at Southport Middle School, who confessed to posting the video as a prank using his iPhone. No explosives or harmful materials were found at the school. The teen faces one count of electronic threats to kill, cause bodily injury, or conduct an act of terrorism per Florida law and was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Authorities underscored that hoax threats carry significant consequences, and school security was notified during the investigation to ensure the safety of students.
- Why it matters: The incident highlights the serious repercussions of making threats, even as a joke, and underscores the importance of responsible use of social media by students.
- The latest: The student has been charged under Florida law and placed in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Source: https://cbs12.com/news/local/tiktok-bomb-threat-sparks-panic-florida-teen-behind-viral-video-arrested-within-hours-port-st-lucie-police-department-south-florida-treasure-coast-news-october-20-2025
Source: https://cbs12.com/news/local/tiktok-bomb-threat-sparks-panic-florida-teen-behind-viral-video-arrested-within-hours-port-st-lucie-police-department-south-florida-treasure-coast-news-october-20-2025