Eleven stitches: St. Cloud and Harmony football proceeds after false shooting threats

A 17-year-old student received 11 stitches in the head on Oct. 16 following an attack near Harmony High School. That injury became the backdrop for a series of false shooting threats that temporarily cast a shadow over the upcoming football game between Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office received the initial tip on Thursday night. It claimed a shooting would occur at the Friday night game. By Friday morning, text messages containing the same threat had spread through the school community. Deputies investigated both the phone report and the digital messages. Officials determined neither threat was genuine.

The attack that preceded the threats began during lunch on Oct. 16. The injured student stood up to a group of students who were throwing carrots at a girl. The group later beat the 17-year-old. He was taken to a hospital and treated for his injuries. Authorities linked the assault to the earlier lunchroom incident. Nine students, ages 14 to 18, were arrested on Oct. 21. They face charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot.

The false threats attributed the planned shooting to the injured teenager. Investigators examined that specific claim and found it to be false as well. As of Friday, the sheriff's office had not identified the person who originated the threats. Officials also had not established whether that person had any relationship with the injured student.

The football game remains scheduled for Friday night, Oct. 23. The sheriff's office confirmed the event would proceed with an expanded law enforcement presence. Additional deputies will provide security at the high school. K-9 units and mounted patrol officers will also be on site. Officers from the St. Cloud Police Department will join the Osceola County deputies for the evening.

Captain Kim Montes of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office stated that the agency would pursue criminal charges against those responsible for the false reports. “False reports of a shooting will not be tolerated and if the suspect is identified, that person will be charged,” Montes said. The source of the threats remained unknown as of Friday.