Austin Lee Bowlin, a Miami-Dade County, Florida high school student, was arrested Monday after police accused him of threatening to shoot up his school via Twitter, news sources indicate. Bowlin, 16, was arrested and booked into a juvenile detention center on one charge of making a threat to injure others. He was later released on unspecified charges. It is not yet known whether he has retained a lawyer.
According to reports, Bowlin made a number of threats on his twitter account threatening to "shoot up" his school, the Miami Lakes Educational Center, on Friday. One of the alleged tweets said Bowlin was going to "shoot up the school this Friday. Prepare yourself" Bowlin also allegedly wrote that he was "making a list and checking it twice. We're about to see who gets shot up real nice," police reports say.
These purported threats touched a raw nerve. Just weeks ago, Adam Lanza of Newton, Connecticut walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School and shot 20 young students, 6 teachers and faculty members, and himself. The shooting, which caught the attention of the press throughout the country, put students and parents on edge and re-sparked the debate of gun control in the United States.
"Yeah a bunch of little kids died. I could care less," Bowlin allegedly wrote on his twitter account. "And my school announced it like matters. Safe? I could shoot this school up easily." Bowlin also reportedly put an image of the Columbine school shooting on his twitter page.
After learning of the alleged tweets, police went to Bowlin's home and placed him under arrest. So far, there is no indication that Bowlin was actually planning on taking a gun to school, nor is there any evidence to suggest that he was making preparations to do so. "This individual showed a pattern of behavior that would be worrisome to any parents, teacher or community member," a police spokesperson said. It is not yet known whether the Miami Lakes Educational Center issued a statement regarding the alleged threats.
In other news, Corine Danielle Motley of Escambia County, Florida was arrested Tuesday after she was accused of producing child pornography featuring a victim between 4 to 5 years of age, news sources indicate. Motley, 25, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of producing child pornography. She did not qualify for bail and it is unclear whether she has hired legal representation.