DeLand – A sharp drop in school threats was broken today after a serious incident involving a local student, authorities said.

Jaymes McCloud, 16, sent threatening messages through Instagram and text messages before escalating the situation in a group chat, where he stated that he would shoot up DeLand High School.

Following the messages, McCloud was taken into secure custody and charged with making written threats to kill, a felony offense.

Officials confirmed that the threats were treated as credible and serious, leading to immediate action to ensure safety.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download