Sheriff says anonymous tip flagged an online post tied to bullying claims.
DELAND, FL — A 12-year-old student was arrested in Volusia County after deputies said the child wrote and posted an online plan describing a shooting at Southwestern Middle School, including threats against classmates and a school employee, authorities said this week.
The arrest renewed attention on how quickly threats can spread online and how schools and law enforcement respond when a warning appears credible. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the case involved a written plan that named intended targets and referenced past school violence. Investigators said the report came in through an anonymous tip, and the child now faces felony charges that can lead to court oversight, counseling orders and other juvenile-justice steps.
Deputies said they learned of the alleged threat after a tipster reported an online post they described as a “manifesto” connected to Southwestern Middle School, a campus at 605 New Hampshire Ave. in DeLand. Chitwood said the writing laid out an attack scenario and included a stated intent to die during the incident. He said the student described classmates as “bullies” and also mentioned a school resource officer as part of the threatened violence. “This was a well thought-out plan,” Chitwood said, adding that it identified people to target and described preparations in broad terms. Investigators moved to identify the author, and the student was taken into custody, officials said.
Authorities identified the student as Josephine “Christian” Simmons-Peters. Deputies said the child is accused of making written threats to kill and of misusing a two-way communication device, charges that can apply when threats are transmitted electronically. Officials did not release copies of the writing or describe its contents in detail, but the sheriff said it included references to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Chitwood said the writing named specific students, and investigators interviewed some of those named. He said those students acknowledged they had teased the child, but he stressed that conflict at school does not justify threats of violence. Deputies did not announce any arrests of other students or adults connected to the case.
The case unfolded in a region where schools have leaned heavily on tip lines and rapid coordination with deputies and campus staff. Chitwood said the report that triggered the investigation was submitted anonymously through FortifyFL, a statewide reporting tool used to flag threats, bullying and other safety concerns. Officials said the tip allowed detectives to act before any violence occurred. The sheriff’s office did not say whether any weapons were found or whether the child had access to firearms. It also did not specify how widely the alleged post circulated among students before it was reported, or whether anyone directly threatened in the writing was alerted before the arrest. Those details remain unclear as the juvenile case proceeds.
Southwestern Middle School serves families in and around DeLand, a city in Volusia County between Orlando and Daytona Beach. The allegation that the student acted out of anger over bullying echoes a pattern often cited by investigators after threats are made, even when no attack takes place. Chitwood said the student told deputies the plan was motivated by being bullied, and he described the writing as fixated on previous school shootings. In many threat investigations, officials try to separate what is bluster from what is actionable by looking for specific targets, timing, and steps that suggest intent. In this case, deputies said the report and the content were serious enough to pursue charges, and the sheriff described the writing as detailed and alarming to students and staff.
The sheriff’s office said its Behavioral Threat Assessment Unit will continue monitoring the case and will intervene “to prevent any acts of violence.” That kind of unit typically works with schools, counselors and juvenile-justice staff to evaluate risk and to set restrictions for a student who returns to class, such as supervision plans or limits on device use. School districts often adjust campus routines after a threat, including extra law-enforcement presence and added check-ins for students who are anxious, though officials did not outline specific changes at Southwestern Middle School. The sheriff’s office also did not say whether the student has been suspended or placed in an alternative setting while the case moves forward.
Because the suspect is 12, the legal process is expected to move through Florida’s juvenile system, where hearings are often closed and records can be restricted. Deputies did not announce a first court date in public statements, but the charges allow prosecutors to seek detention, supervision or mandated services depending on how the case is filed. Investigators may also review the student’s online accounts and school records as part of the inquiry, including who may have seen the post and whether there were earlier warnings. The sheriff’s office has not said whether additional charges could be filed. Officials also have not disclosed whether the student has an attorney or whether the family has responded publicly.
At the school, the allegation spread quickly among parents and students in a community already sensitive to warnings of violence. Chitwood said the report “alarmed” students and staff, and he credited the tipster for speaking up. In public remarks, the sheriff framed the case as an example of why reporting systems matter and why threats are treated as real until proven otherwise. Students who learn about such cases often show up with mixed emotions, from anger to fear to sadness for classmates pulled into a criminal investigation at a young age. Officials said they are continuing to assess any ongoing risk and to support the school as it resumes normal routines.
The sheriff’s office said there is no indication of an immediate, active threat tied to the case, and investigators consider the suspect in custody. Deputies said the investigation remains open as they review the online post and interview people connected to the school. The next major milestone is the student’s first juvenile court appearance once the case is formally scheduled.
Author note: Last updated February 25, 2026.