Harmony–St. Cloud football game to proceed with added security after false threats

ST. CLOUD, Fla. — The football game between Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School remained scheduled for Friday night, Oct. 23, with an expanded law enforcement presence after authorities investigated shooting threats and determined they were false. The threats circulated after nine students were arrested in connection with an attack on another teenager near Harmony High School.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said it first received a tip Thursday night claiming that a shooting would occur at the football game. Text messages carrying the same threat then began circulating around the school Friday morning. Deputies investigated both the initial report and the messages, officials said, and found neither threat to be genuine.

Additional deputies were set to provide security at the high school alongside K-9s and mounted patrol officers. Officers from the St. Cloud Police Department would also be present, according to the sheriff's office. The announced security arrangements accompanied the agency's confirmation that the game would go ahead Friday evening.

Authorities said the person responsible for the false threats had attributed them to the teenager injured in the earlier attack. Investigators examined that allegation and determined it was also false. The sheriff's office had not identified who originated the threats or established whether that person had any relationship with the injured student.

The attack occurred Oct. 16 near Harmony High School, according to the sheriff's office. Several students allegedly attacked and beat a 17-year-old, who was taken to a hospital and received 11 stitches. Authorities linked the assault to an incident during lunch earlier that day.

The sheriff's office said the teenager had stood up to a group of students who were throwing carrots at a girl during lunch. Officials said the beating took place afterward. Nine students, ranging in age from 14 to 18, were arrested Oct. 21 on charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot.

OCSO Captain Kim Montes warned that the false shooting reports could lead to criminal charges. “False reports of a shooting will not be tolerated and if the suspect is identified, that person will be charged,” Montes said. As of Friday, the source of the threats remained unknown.