COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — A 16-year-old Fort White was arrested after an “extensive investigation” dating back to April 2024 and will face at least 48 charges associated with using a two-way communication device to make threats, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office announced in a release Tuesday.

The teen’s arrest comes after he called the sheriff’s office threatening to carry out a school shooting, according to investigators. First Coast News is choosing not to identify the suspect due to his age.

Investigators say they found electronic evidence linking the teen to making threats, establishing probable cause for his subsequent arrest.

“Social media trends have sometimes led to the false reporting of active critical incidents at schools which have drawn a large dedication of resources from local first responders,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.

The teen will be tried as an adult for his role in the case, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators said the case remains open, with the possibility of additional arrests made in the future.

“Today, this serves as another example of our criminal justice system echoing that same commitment to holding these offenders accountable for their actions,” the sheriff’s office said.