Spoto High School Student, 17, Arrested for August Bomb Threat

A 17-year-old Spoto High School student, Alexander Parris, faces charges after authorities say he made a bomb threat to the school on August 19, 2026. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested Parris on August 20, 2026, following an investigation that traced the threatening call to a phone he used.

The incident caused immediate concern and disruption at the school. Deputies conducted a thorough search of the campus, but found no explosives or other threats. The quick response from law enforcement ensured the safety of students and staff, allowing the school to continue normal operations.

School Resource Deputies received notification of the bomb threat on August 19, 2026, at 6:36 PM. The caller reportedly asked the school receptionist, "Is this Spoto?" before claiming to have planted a bomb on the first floor of the 200 building and threatening lives. The caller then hung up.

Detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office immediately began investigating the origin of the call. They traced the phone number to a device belonging to the parent of Alexander Parris, a 12th-grade student at Spoto High School. On August 20, 2026, detectives contacted Parris and his mother at the school. They confirmed the phone belonged to the Parris family and that Alexander Parris was the confirmed user of the device at the time of the call. A review of the phone's call history showed the call made to Spoto High School.

Parris was arrested and faces charges including False Report of a Bomb, Explosive or Weapon of Mass Destruction; Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device; and Disrupting a School Campus or Function.

Sheriff Chad Chronister emphasized the seriousness of such threats. "A bomb threat is not a joke, a prank or something we will ever take lightly," Sheriff Chronister stated. "One call can create fear and disrupt an entire school. If you make a threat against one of our schools, we will find you, arrest you and hold you accountable."

The investigation remains active, and any further updates will come from the Public Affairs Office.