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According to detectives, the suspect identified as 14-year-old Edward Charles Osgood posted a threatening photo and statements on his Snapchat account on February 16, 2018 at about 11:00 p.m. He specifically stated “Round 3 on Florida on Tuesday”. Osgood quoted this while holding what appeared to be an AR 15 style assault rifle and he indicated the shooting would occur at the Lealman Innovation Academy, which is a Pinellas County school.
On February 17, 2018 at approximately 1:15 p.m. deputies were notified after concerned citizens reported the threatening social media posts on Snapchat to the Pinellas County 911 Regional Communications Center.
Through investigative techniques detectives were able to identify the suspect in the photograph as Osgood.
Detectives went to Osgood’s residence located at 5330 3rd Avenue South in St. Petersburg.
Detectives contacted Osgood’s parents, 46 year old Angela Osgood and 51 year-old Charles Edward Osgood. Detectives spoke with both parents and informed them of Osgood’s post on Snapchat. Detectives then made contact with Osgood. Detectives introduced themselves and Osgood immediately stated, “I know why you are here, because of the photo.” Osgood grabbed his phone and went to the picture section on his phone and showed detectives the photograph with the statement “Round 3 on Florida on Tuesday”. Osgood quoted this while he was depicted holding what appeared to be an AR 15 style assault rifle. Osgood admitted he took the selfie photograph and made the post on his Snapchat account.
Osgood informed detectives he had spent the previous night at his juvenile friend’s house. Osgood told detectives he was checking his Snapchat account and saw a recent post of a white male wearing a black outfit holding a rifle. The caption on the photo read “Round 2 on Florida tomorrow”. (This was in reference to a threatening Snapchat post in Spartanburg, South Carolina that went viral throughout the state of Florida)