Osceola Sheriff Expands Security for Harmony St. Cloud Football After Clearing False Threats

Osceola County Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed on Thursday that the scheduled Friday night football game between Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School would proceed with an increased law enforcement presence. The decision followed an investigation into reports of a shooting at the event, which authorities determined were false. The match, set for Oct. 23, remains the focal point of a security effort that includes additional deputies, K-9 units, and mounted patrol officers from the sheriff’s office, as well as personnel from the St. Cloud Police Department.

The threat first emerged as a tip received Thursday night, claiming gunfire would break out during the game. By Friday morning, text messages containing the same warning had spread among students. Investigators examined both the initial report and the circulated messages, finding no basis for either claim. The sheriff’s office noted that the person behind the false alarms had falsely attributed the threats to the teenager injured in a separate assault near Harmony High School.

Investigators also rejected the claim that the injured student was the source of the threat. The sheriff’s office has not yet identified the originator of the false reports or determined any connection between that person and the student victim. Captain Kim Montes of the OCSO indicated 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.

The security buildup follows an incident on Oct. 16 in which a 17-year-old was attacked near the school. Authorities stated the victim had intervened during lunch when a group of students threw carrots at a girl. The confrontation escalated later, resulting in a beating that sent the teenager to the hospital for 11 stitches. On Oct. 21, police arrested nine students, aged 14 to 18, on charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot. The arrests occurred five days after the assault and preceded the spread of the shooting threats by two days.

The expanded security plan represents a precautionary measure to ensure the event runs smoothly despite the recent turmoil. The sheriff’s office will coordinate with local police to manage crowds and monitor the venue. The game proceeds as planned, with officials maintaining that the threats were unfounded after a thorough review of the available evidence.