Pasco student arrested for threat to 'shoot up school'

NEW PORT RICHEY (FOX 13) - A 15-year-old Ridgewood High School student has been charged with a second-degree felony after threatening to "shoot up the school." 

Pasco Sheriff's Office deputies arrested the student on Wednesday for "making a false report to use a firearm in a violent manner." 

This charge comes after a new state law that took effect just last month, which increased the consequences of school shooting threats. Under the new law, the Ridgewood High student could be facing up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. 

School superintendant Kurt Browning issued the following statement: 

“It breaks my heart that a 15-year-old student’s future is in jeopardy because he made a false threat to shoot up his school, especially after we widely publicized the new “terroristic threats” law and pleaded with parents to talk to their kids about its serious consequences. I will take this opportunity to once again ask all parents to make it clear that it is not okay to joke about school shootings. Such threats are not a laughing matter and neither are their legal consequences."