ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Graffiti threatening a shooting at an Orange County high school has prompted a sheriff’s investigation, officials said on Monday.
The graffiti, which also included swastikas and “KKK,” was found Sunday afternoon on a community clubhouse in the 2500 block of Wild Tamarind Boulevard near Timber Creek High School, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.
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The vandalism also had “a statement about shooting up Timber Creek High School,” according to deputies.
Authorities said school resource officers at Timber Creek High and school administrators were alerted about the threat.
Timber Creek High informed parents and guardians about the threat via voicemail.
“I was made aware of vandalism on an Avalon community building that contained racist language, anti-Semitic symbols and a possible threat against our school and administration,” Principal Kelly Paduano said. “I want to assure you I take these situations very seriously. If this involves any of our students, they will be disciplined according to our code of student conduct up to and including expulsion or possible arrest.”
Additional security would likely be visible Monday at the school, she added. Parents said they’re glad the school district is taking this seriously.
“It’s definitely scary. You just don’t want anything to happen to the students,” parent Jennifer Beck said.
Another parent, Anthony Fernandez, agreed that the threat had no place at the school.
“That’s a symbol of hate and it’s a multiracial school. There’s different ethnicities there so there’s no place for it,” Fernandez said.
Residents who live near this clubhouse also said it makes them mad.
“Just hearing that news it’s pretty upsetting and disappointing to hear that we’d still have to deal with something like that in this day and age, especially in an area like this,” Zack Smart said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has not said who is behind the vandalism or if it involved a student, but an investigation is ongoing.
As the case continues to be looked into, the school district wants to remind everyone to report anything suspicious to the school or by using the Fortify Florida app.