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The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has charged an Okaloosa Online Student with making an electronic threat of a mass shooting/terrorist act.
13-year old Vaida Jasmine McDougald was taken into custody Monday afternoon at her home in Crestview.
The OCSO received information about the threatening video from the FBI yesterday morning. McDougald was on FaceTime with an individual when she brandished a handgun, pointed it at the screen, put it in her mouth, and told the individual about a plan to conduct a mass shooting at Crestview High School sometime in 2026. McDougald admitted to making the threat in the video and told deputies that she also sent photos of the gun to other friends but stated it was a “joke.”
During a search of McDougald room, deputies discovered numerous handmade drawings with concerning messages. A search of McDougald’s phone turned up multiple photos of semi-automatic weapons and videos depicting mass shootings.
Making a written or electronic threat of a mass shooting or terrorist act is a second-degree felony. Sheriff Eric Aden emphasizes that the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy for threat of school violence. We also encourage anyone with information regarding potential school threats to tell someone or contact Emerald Coast Student Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS, emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com or by using the P3 Tips Mobile application.
Statement from Superintendent Chambers:
“Our highest priority is the safety and security of our students, staff, and school communities. The Okaloosa County School District enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy for any threats against our schools—whether real, false, or perceived. Such actions are treated with the utmost seriousness, as they compromise the safety and well-being of everyone in our school environments.
I urge parents to have open and honest conversations with their children about the gravity of making threats and the serious consequences they carry. By addressing these concerns at home, you play an essential role in fostering accountability and helping us maintain safe and secure spaces for learning, growth, and success. Together, we can ensure that our schools remain places where students and staff feel protected and supported.”
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