Student suspended for threatening to shoot classmates

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida student has been suspended after, police said, he threatened to shoot classmates at his school.

Miami-Dade Police have charged 16-year-old Austin Lee Bowlin with writing or making threats to injure or cause bodily injury.

The teen, however, called the incident a misunderstanding. He said he was responding to classmates who were making fun of the whole issue and he apologized for his actions.

According to police, on Monday morning, following morning announcements at Miami Lakes Educational Center, Bowlin had posted messages via social media that he was making a list of targets and was planning to shoot fellow classmates.

In one of the messages he posted via his Twitter account, Bowlin stated he was “making a list and checking it twice. We’re about to see who gets shot up real nice,” according to the arrest report.

"School administrators responded quickly to work with police in addressing this situation," said said John Schuster, Chief Communications Officer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools in a statement. "The student has been suspended and will be recommended for expulsion. He will not be returning to this school."

The threats come in the wake of Friday's mass shooting in Connecticut, which left 26 children, teachers and school administrators dead. In his posts, Bowlin also stated: “Yeah, a bunch of little kids died. I could care less. And my school announced it like matters. safe? I could shoot this school up easily.”

Police arrested Bowlin at the school.

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