A teen was arrested in Tampa for making online threats to conduct a mass shooting at a school in Texas.
On September 14, 2023, STAR Team investigators were notified of an ongoing written threat to shoot up a school in San Antonio, Texas. Working with the FBI, the HCSO investigators learned that the Instagram account @they_fw_bella1 posted messages saying, "Imma do a shooting at Driscoll middle school on October 21st" and "Yall got until Friday to find out who I am Or else everyone dies." The threats were directed to Driscoll Middle School at 17150 Jones Maltsberger Rd in San Antonio.
Within hours, through investigative means, the STAR deputies confirmed the origin of the electronic threats to a home on the 1400 block of 4 Seasons Boulevard in Tampa. They located and talked to Isaac David Mendoza Micloth, 14, and obtained a full confession where the teen stated he had created the fake Instagram account and used a former classmate's photograph from Driscoll Middle School. Micloth was a student at Driscoll Middle and had withdrawn in February 2023.
"I commend the quick work of the STAR Team investigators, who worked diligently to identify and apprehend this wayward teen," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We do not take lightly any school threats that would harm students or faculty, whether in Hillsborough County or any other state. I urge parents to talk to their children and remind them that even empty threats can come with the full weight of the law."
Isaac David Mendoza Micloth was taken into custody and charged with one count of Written or Electronic Threat to Conduct a Mass Shooting or Act of Terrorism, and one count of Unlawful Use of a Two Way Communications Device.
Anyone who sees, hears, or reads about a threat and would like to report a tip can do so by calling teamHCSO's non-emergency line, 813-247-8200, or 911 if it's an emergency.