9th Grader Arrested for School Shooting Threats in Manatee County

BRADENTON, FL – A 15-year-old student from Manatee County was arrested on Thursday after making threats of a mass school shooting on social media. Quenin Hernandez-Moreno, a 9th grader, was identified by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office as the individual behind alarming messages shared via Snapchat. Hernandez-Moreno claimed he would carry out a school shooting on Friday, September 13, 2024, at multiple Manatee County schools.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the Bradenton Police Department, quickly launched an investigation after being alerted to the threats on September 12. Detectives were able to trace the messages back to Hernandez-Moreno. Evidence found on his cellphone confirmed his involvement, and during questioning, the student admitted to making the threats as a joke. A search of his home yielded no weapons.

Despite Hernandez-Moreno's claim that the threats were not serious, he was arrested and transported to the Juvenile Detention Center. Additional deputies have been dispatched to several schools in the district as a precautionary measure.

Sheriff Rick Wells emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “Our student's safety is always our highest priority, and these threats are taken very seriously. We will work tirelessly to track down the people who make these threats. This is never a joking matter.”

Authorities are continuing to investigate other social media posts related to potential threats. Officials are urging anyone with information about threats to report it immediately through law enforcement channels or via the FortifyFL app at https://getfortifyfl.com/.