Osceola Sheriff adds K-9 units to guard football game after fake shooting calls

The football game between Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School is set to take place on Friday, Oct. 23, with a larger police presence than usual. Law enforcement officials cleared the field for play after determining that recent reports of a shooting were not genuine.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office first received a tip on Thursday night alleging that a shooting would occur at the stadium. By Friday morning, text messages carrying the same claim began spreading among students. Investigators reviewed both the initial tip and the digital messages and found no evidence that a shooter was planning an attack.

These threats surfaced after nine students were arrested for their roles in a violent incident near Harmony High School. The attack happened on Oct. 16 and stemmed from a dispute during lunch. According to the sheriff's office, a 17-year-old student intervened when a group of peers threw carrots at a girl. The teenager was then beaten by several students and taken to a hospital, where he received 11 stitches. On Oct. 21, police arrested nine students, ages 14 to 18, on charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot.

Authorities noted that the person who spread the false shooting rumors blamed the injured teenager for starting the conflict. Investigators examined this specific claim and determined it was also false. As of Friday, the sheriff's office had not identified the originator of the threats or established any link between that person and the injured student.

To ensure safety, the sheriff's office confirmed that additional deputies would secure the venue. The security team includes K-9 units and mounted patrol officers. Officers from the St. Cloud Police Department will also be present at the game.

Osceola County Sheriff's Office Captain Kim Montes stated that the agency intends to hold the responsible party accountable for the misinformation. “False reports of a shooting will not be tolerated and if the suspect is identified, that person will be charged,” Montes said. The source of the threats remains unknown as of Friday.

The expanded security measures were announced alongside the official confirmation that the game would proceed. This decision allows the two schools to play their scheduled match while maintaining a heightened watch for any further disturbances.