12-Year-Old Arrested After Plotting A Mass School Shooting In Volusia

A chilling reminder of how online radicalization and unchecked bullying can spiral into real-world danger emerged overnight in Florida, where deputies say a 12-year-old student was arrested after allegedly publishing a detailed online manifesto threatening a mass shooting at her own school.

According to authorities, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office Domestic Security Unit launched an emergency response after the manifesto appeared online, outlining plans to carry out an attack at Southwestern Middle School. Investigators say the post cited ongoing bullying as motivation.

The suspect, identified by deputies as Josephine Simmons-Peters, was taken into custody and charged with making written threats to kill and misuse of a two-way communications device — serious felony charges despite her young age.

Sheriff’s officials say the manifesto was not vague or impulsive, but detailed enough to immediately trigger domestic security protocols. Deputies moved quickly, responding overnight to prevent what they describe as a credible threat before it could escalate into violence.

“This is exactly why we monitor online threats aggressively,” authorities indicated, emphasizing that early detection likely prevented a tragedy.

While the suspect’s age has shocked many, the case has reignited a broader debate over bullying, mental health, and the alarming rise of violent ideation among children growing up in a digital pressure cooker. Critics argue the system repeatedly fails kids until law enforcement becomes the last line of defense.

Once again, a school was nearly turned into a crime scene — not by an outsider, but from within.