Florida middle school student prevents possible school shooting in Ohio

Hope Schreiber
·Writer

A Florida eighth-grader has been honored for helping prevent a possible school shooting in Ohio when she reported that the student she had been texting told her he wanted to "shoot people."

Audrey Stone, a student at Attucks Middle School in Hollywood, Fla., received the Hollywood Police Chief's Special Recognition Award, as well as a letter of commendation for outstanding courage and compassion, during her school's eighth-grade graduation on Thursday, for alerting the police to the threats, according to Local 10 and CBS Miami.

"When you saw something, you said something that led to the prevention of a potential tragedy," Hollywood police chief Chris O'Brien said during the ceremony.

Stone had initially befriended the unnamed Ohio student through social media. "He kept texting me, talking about how he wanted to shoot people because he didn't feel like he was wanted at the school," she said. "When I asked him what school he went to, he wouldn't tell me so I talked to one of his friends and he gave me the school info."

The student took the boy’s threats seriously and contacted Broward County dispatch, who then contacted deputies in Ohio.

"It was very, very crucial that she did pass that information along," Hollywood police Maj. Derik Alexander said.

Police in Ohio were able to identify and locate the student, and believe that his threats were credible. According to Alexander, police found a list of students' names and a gun the student had taken a picture with.

The Ohio student was arrested in early April and currently remains in custody.

Stone's message to her classmates, which can be extended to all students, is if you see something, say something.

"Don't think twice," Stone said. "Just automatically talk to someone about it."

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