Courageous Student Report Leads to Arrest in School Threat Case Staff Reports February 12, 2026 4:49 pm Crime, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Public Safety, Schools and Education In Brief: A 15-year-old was arrested after making repeated school shooting threats tied to Choctawhatchee High School. Investigators found a document listing student names, but no weapons. The sheriff and superintendent praised students for reporting concerns early FORT WALTON BEACH — A Fort Walton Beach–area teenager has been arrested after investigators say he made repeated and increasingly specific threats to carry out a school shooting, prompting praise from law enforcement and school officials for students who reported the behavior. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that 15-year-old Joel Bravo-Jaramillo was taken into custody and charged with issuing a written or electronic threat to commit a mass shooting and using a two-way communication device to commit a felony. According to investigators, Choctawhatchee High School officials became aware of the threats on January 16 and immediately contacted law enforcement while taking additional safety measures. During the investigation, witnesses told deputies the teen had been making threats between December 2025 and January 2026, with the statements becoming more detailed over time. Authorities said no weapons were found. However, a forensic examination of the teen’s phone revealed a document titled “List 2026,” which contained the names of students who currently attend or previously attended Choctawhatchee High School. While being interviewed by investigators, Bravo-Jaramillo admitted to making the statements but claimed they were meant as jokes....
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