This weekend, Walton County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the FBI of a possible threat on TikTok involving comments referencing a planned school shooting.
The individual behind the account livestreamed threatening statements that were immediately flagged and pulled down.
With the assistance of the FBI, deputies quickly identified the individual as Ethan Ladner, 20, of Santa Rosa Beach.
Contact was made with Ladner who confirmed the TikTok account belonged to him. Ladner admitted to posting the threatening comments, and said he was attempting to provoke reactions online.
Ladner was charged with making electronic threats of a mass shooting, a felony in Florida.
Let us be clear. There is no such thing as a “joke” when it comes to threats of violence toward our schools.
Every threat is treated as credible until proven otherwise. These investigations mobilize extensive law-enforcement resources and carry serious legal consequences.
As students return to the classroom tomorrow following Thanksgiving break, we want our community to know we are always working closely with our local schools, federal partners, and our community to ensure a safe environment for both students and staff.
We take every threat, online or otherwise, seriously and will act swiftly.
Parents, please take this opportunity to speak with your children about the gravity of posting threats or violent language online.
Even comments made “as a joke” can result in criminal charges, school discipline, and long-term consequences that follow someone for life.
Walton County stands together in keeping our schools safe.
