Deputies: Former student posts threats to Flagler school on Facebook

Deputies issue 'preliminary lockdown' on 3 campuses

PALM COAST, Fla. – A Flagler County man was arrested Wednesday afternoon for making threats to students on Facebook, according to deputies.

The threats found on William Hofer's Facebook page caused Flagler County Sheriff's Office to lockdown Flagler Palm Coast High School, Matanzas High School and Daytona State College's Flagler-Palm Coast campus around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Deputies looked in every car trying to get on campus and checked occupant's IDs.

A nearby charter school, Imagine School at Town Center, voluntarily canceled all outdoor activities on Wednesday as well.

Hofer, 20, was found around 4 p.m. hiding in some woods behind his father's Flagler Beach home near John Anderson Highway. He is facing a second degree felony charge of making a written threat to kill or do bodily harm, authorities said.

"He said he was revenging an incident where his brother was killed over in Putnam County last week," said Flagler County Major Steve Clair.

Police said the threatening message that appeared on Hofer's Facebook page said he was going to kill every MHS student and their families.

"We haven't confirmed that it is his brother. There was an individual that he's claiming is his brother we're not sure if it's his actual physical brother or his acquaintance, a street level brother type thing," said Clair.

Hofer graduated from Flagler Palm Coast High in 2011 and is enrolled at Daytona State College. People who know him, including Flagler's Assistant Superintendent Jacob Oliva, described him as well liked and respectful.

"He was a typical kid," said Aaliyah Gonzalez, who once attended high school with Hofer. "He wasn't crazy. I would not expect him to do something like this."

Deputies said they are not aware of Hofer having a violent history. However, he was charged with possession of marijuana in April 2012.


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