20 extra officers guard Harmony football after threats cleared

Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School are playing football Friday night with 20 additional deputies on site. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office made this decision after determining that recent threats of a shooting were false. The expanded security includes K-9 units and mounted patrol officers, joining regular staff from both schools’ districts.

The game was originally scheduled for Oct. 23, but officials moved up the security confirmation after a tip arrived Thursday night. Deputies received a report claiming a shooting would occur at the event. By Friday morning, text messages carrying the same threat began circulating among students. Investigators reviewed both the initial tip and the digital messages and found no evidence of a genuine plot.

These security measures follow a violent incident on Oct. 16 near the school. A 17-year-old student was attacked by a group of peers and taken to a hospital, where he received 11 stitches. Officials stated the assault was retaliation for a lunchtime dispute. The victim had intervened when a group of students was throwing carrots at a girl during the meal.

Five days after the attack, on Oct. 21, deputies arrested nine students. The group ranged in age from 14 to 18. All nine face charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot. The sheriff’s office noted that the false threats were attributed to the injured teenager, but investigators found that connection to be incorrect as well.

Authorities have not yet identified the person who started the rumors. They also could not determine if that individual knew the injured student. OCSO Captain Kim Montes stated that the agency is treating the false reports as a serious matter. She warned that if the suspect is identified, they will face criminal charges. The source of the threats remained unknown as of Friday.

The St. Cloud Police Department will also have officers present at the stadium. The combined force aims to maintain order while the teams compete. The sheriff’s office confirmed the game would go ahead despite the confusion caused by the circulating messages.