Teen charged for trying to use Instagram to put a hit on a school employee: 'I need him eliminated'

A Florida teen was arrested for trying to hire someone to kill a school employee on Instagram, police said.

Nicholas Godfrey was charged with a first-degree attempt to solicit murder for a hit he tried to place on a member of the staff at Fivay High School, where he is a student, police said in a press conference on Friday.

Authorities declined to reveal the identity of the school employee who was threatened, but did share some messages that the teen allegedly sent on Instagram.

"I need a guy who can kill someone," an Instagram message said. "We have $100,000 for the victim's head."

"No joke, I need him eliminated as soon as possible," another message read.

Godfrey admitted to sending the messages, but said that he was joking about the threats and wasn't serious about carrying out the plan, police said.

Despite claiming he was joking, police said intent doesn't matter. Once "you post it out there on social media, you committed that crime," Nocco said

"You threaten a member of the school district, who's out there trying to do their job, to educate children, to be part of that process, we're gonna come hunt you down. We will track you down," Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said.

Godfrey's parents were "shocked" and "had no idea" about the messages their son was sending. His record "did not show somebody that had consistently terrible issues," Nocco said.

The school district's superintendent said Godfrey has not been expelled yet. He was released from jail Friday on a $10,000 bond, arrest records show.