Harmony and St. Cloud football game to proceed with added police presence

The football game between Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School is set for Friday evening, October 23, with an expanded law enforcement presence. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office confirmed the schedule after investigating recent threats of a shooting at the venue. Officials determined the threats were not genuine.

A tip received Thursday night claimed a shooting would occur at the game. Text messages carrying the same threat began circulating around the school on Friday morning. Deputies investigated both the initial report and the digital messages. The sheriff's office stated that neither threat was credible.

Additional deputies will provide security at the high school. The deployment includes K-9 units and mounted patrol officers. Officers from the St. Cloud Police Department are also scheduled to be present. These security measures were announced alongside the confirmation that the game would proceed.

Authorities initially linked the false threats to a teenager injured in an earlier attack. Investigators examined that specific allegation and found it to be false as well. The sheriff's office has not yet identified the person who originated the threats. It remains unknown if that person has a relationship with the injured student.

The underlying incident occurred on October 16 near Harmony High School. Several students allegedly attacked and beat a 17-year-old. The teenager was taken to a hospital and received 11 stitches. Officials said the assault was linked to a lunch incident where the victim stood up to students throwing carrots at a girl.

Nine students, ranging in age from 14 to 18, were arrested on October 21. They face charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot. The false threats emerged in the days following these arrests.

Osceola County Sheriff's Office Captain Kim Montes warned that the false reports could lead to criminal charges. "False reports of a shooting will not be tolerated and if the suspect is identified, that person will be charged," Montes said. As of Friday, the source of the threats remained unknown.