Mississauga teen arrested for mass shooting threat in Florida
Published June 7, 2022 at 10:03 am
A 17-year-old from Mississauga has been arrested and charged after online threats were made to carry out a mass shooting at an LGBTQ+ event in West Palm Beach, Fla.
According to the West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD), the investigation was launched on Sunday (June 5) after the Miami Police Department was tipped off about a mass shooting threat.
The threat was allegedly made on the video chat platform, Omegle, and police said the suspect, who claimed to live in West Palm Beach, could be seen waving a gun in the video.
The suspect reportedly made anti-LGBTQ+ comments and said he was going to commit a mass shooting at the Pride on the Block 2022 event, which took place, amid increased security measures, on Sunday.
The subsequent international, multiagency investigation that involved Peel Regional Police, Toronto Police, the NYPD and the FBI led to the overnight arrest of the suspect.
A Global News report said the 17-year-old suspect was arrested in Mississauga on Monday (June 6).
In Canada, the teen has been charged with making threats to commit a mass shooting.
Charges are pending from the WPBPD for Florida State Statute 836.10: Written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.
INsauga's Editorial Standards and PoliciesARREST OF ANTI-#LGBTQ+ MASS SHOOTING THREAT SUSPECT. International, multiagency investigation with @NYPDnews @TorontoPolice @PeelPolice @FBI @MiamiPD leads to arrest of 17-year-old who threatened mass shooting at #Pride event. https://t.co/VQByLH6pFH via @Nextdoor pic.twitter.com/FFHYAhKg7f
— West Palm Beach Police Department (@WestPalmPD) June 6, 2022