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Putnam County teen accused of making another school threat

Deputies say Baylee Crowe violated his condition of release after May arrest

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – A teenager who deputies said posted a gun threat on Snapchat in May when he was a senior at Interlachen High School is accused of making another school threat, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. 

Baylee Crowe, 19, was booked Wednesday night into the Putnam County jail, where he's being held without bond, online jail records show. 

Deputies said Crowe on Tuesday afternoon approached students at an Interlachen High bus stop and held a conversation about coming back and shooting up the school. On Wednesday morning, according to deputies, those students told school administrators and the information was handed over to youth resource deputies, who contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives said they requested a bond revocation, which was granted by a judge and an arrest warrant was issued. By Wednesday evening, Crowe was taken into custody. Deputies said a risk protection order is being obtained to prevent Crowe from legally having possession of a firearm.

“We will continue to take seriously any threat made against our school campuses and students,” Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said in a news release Thursday. “We will continue to ensure our children are safe and any threat against a school will be met with the severest consequences possible.”

News4Jax reported in May that Crowe, who was an 18-year-old senior at Interlachen High at the time, was arrested after deputies said he posted a gun threat on Snapchat. 

The Sheriff’s Office said Crowe was removed from class, searched for weapons and escorted to the dean's office for questioning after deputies were notified of photos posted on Snapchat showing him holding a machine gun, one of which had a message saying, “No school tomorrow?” two weeks before graduation. When Crowe was asked whether a sibling had any involvement in the social media post, according to the Sheriff's Office, Crowe told youth resource deputies that he would "kill all of you."

PREVIOUS STORY: Snapchat threat leads to arrest of Putnam County student

At that time, a judge set Crowe's bond at $25,000, but there was no one to bail him out of jail. A judge eventually allowed Crowe to get out on the condition that he wear an ankle monitor, which would alert law enforcement if he traveled within 1,000 feet of a school. A condition of his release also required him to have no contact with Interlachen High students. Crowe was allowed to graduate, but not to be part of the graduation ceremony. 

News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said the judge did Crowe a favor.

"It sounds as though the judge was lenient on him the first time because of his future potential, recognizing he probably made a mistake, poor judgment, so the judge gave him a break," he said.

Deputies said Crowe was jailed this week because speaking to students was a violation of the terms of his release.

Jefferson said violating the bond agreement may have sealed Crowe’s fate. He also said teens who think it’s OK to make threats against schools should really consider the consequences. 

"If someone even implies they want to do something like that, without even making the threat, it becomes serious," Jefferson said. "It's a very serious offense and they are looking forward to starting their adulthood life in prison because, when they are convicted of that kind of crime, they are going to spend time in prison. It starts off at five years, but that will be their introduction into adulthood."

Putnam County School District Superintendent Rick Surrency thanked school staff, youth resource deputies and the Sheriff's Office for taking swift action that led to Crowe's recent arrest. 

“We are taking all measures to ensure our students, staff and schools remain safe from those who threaten to do harm," Surrency said in a statement. "School safety, always has been, and always will be a top priority in our district.”

The recent matter is still under investigation and additional charges may be filed, according to the Sheriff's Office. 


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Award-winning broadcast and multimedia journalist with 20 years experience.

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