Florida Teen Facing Felony Charge For Posting Threatening Message On Social Media

HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) – Police in Hollywood arrested a teenager for posting threatening messages on social media.

Authorities say 16-year-old Wilmer Martinez was taken into custody on Wednesday.

Police say multiple people reported Martinez posted a photo and video that featured a threatening caption that read in part, "I'm debating on whether I should carry my pistol w me like last year" and showing a person pulling out a gun inside a school classroom.

"It's disturbing, it's frightening, especially during the first week of school," said Hollywood Police Department Spokesperson Miranda Grossman.

Police say the video may have been filmed last year even though it was posted on Tuesday.

Martinez now faces a felony charge of electronic threat to kill.

According to authorities, Martinez was expelled from McArthur High School last year for bringing ammunition into school.

"This student was expelled from McArthur High School for bringing ammunition into the school so he was already expelled," Grossman said. "Detectives think this video was filmed last year but it was just posted to social media yesterday."

The video brings to mind deadly school shootings like the one in Parkland 18 months ago that continues to traumatize the South Florida community. Police say if there's one takeaway to this disturbing video it's that the community stepped up and reported it to law enforcement.

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"Multiple people called police to report it and that's what's important here is that this community had the courage to come forward to police," Grossman said.

It's likely Martinez will stand before a judge sometime Thursday on the charge. Hollywood Police say a member of Martinez's family, 29-year-old Elba Martinez-Bermudez. was also arrested Wednesday for obstructing the investigation.

If you have additional information about the video, you're asked to call the Hollywood Police Department.