A 12-year-old middle school student in Florida posted a chilling 13-step manifesto online detailing exactly how she planned to execute a mass shooting at her school, naming specific victims and idolizing the Columbine killers.
Story Snapshot
- Josephine “Christian” Simmons-Peters arrested after posting detailed shooting plan targeting students, teacher, and staff at Southwestern Middle School in DeLand
- Manifesto included 13 steps referencing Columbine, motivated by bullying and failing grade from named teacher
- Anonymous tip through Fortify Florida platform led to rapid arrest via IP trace, preventing potential tragedy
- No weapons found at home; suspect charged with written threats to kill and misuse of communications device
- Sheriff emphasizes bullying provides no excuse for threats as community faces third such incident
The Manifesto That Shocked Investigators
The document that landed a sixth-grader in handcuffs wasn’t a vague threat scrawled in a bathroom stall. Josephine Simmons-Peters crafted a methodical blueprint for mass murder, posting it publicly on a website with detailing her arrival time, weapon hiding locations, shooting sequences, and intended suicide. She named her targets: a teacher who gave her an F, students who bullied her, the school resource officer, and unnamed staff members. Investigators described it as “well-thought-out,” with references to shooting into crowds of 12 or more people. This wasn’t adolescent posturing. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office found a pre-teen channeling hatred through the lens of America’s darkest school attacks.
What makes this case particularly alarming is the suspect’s open admiration for Columbine, the 1999 massacre that killed 13 people and became a twisted template for copycat attackers. Sheriff Mike Chitwood noted the manifesto’s graphic detail and the disturbing reality that an 11 or 12-year-old could study and attempt to replicate such evil. The plan stayed online until an anonymous tipster used Florida’s Fortify Florida platform to alert authorities on February 22, 2026. Within hours, investigators traced the IP address to DeLand, and by 1:30 a.m. on February 23, Josephine was in custody at the Volusia Family Resource Center.
Bullying and Failure as Catalysts, Not Excuses
Josephine’s motivations centered on two grievances: persistent bullying from classmates and academic frustration over a failing grade. According to investigators, these experiences fueled growing resentment that manifested in a prior, less severe threat against another student. This wasn’t her first brush with violent ideation. The current manifesto represented an escalation, a shift from fleeting anger to calculated planning. School officials at Southwestern Middle School, which serves a district of roughly 64,000 students, confirmed the named teacher and students were real targets. An accomplice, a boy at the school, admitted Josephine shared the plan with him, though he faced no charges.
Sheriff Chitwood made his stance clear in press conferences: bullying cannot and will not justify threats of violence. While acknowledging the real pain bullying causes, he emphasized that crossing the line into planning mass murder demands consequences and intervention. The community reaction reflects exhaustion, with DeLand residents noting this was the third such local incident. Parents and educators grapple with a new normal where middle schoolers access online forums glorifying shooters and draft plans detailed enough to alarm seasoned law enforcement. The Behavioral Threat Assessment Unit now oversees Josephine’s case, focusing on long-term threat mitigation rather than simple punishment.
Why the Tip System Worked
The arrest hinged on Florida’s Fortify Florida platform, a “see something, say something” reporting tool that allows anonymous tips about school threats. The tipster, whose identity remains protected, learned about the plan from a friend and acted immediately. Investigators credit this rapid reporting with preventing a potential tragedy at Southwestern Middle School. Despite the manifesto’s removal from the original website, remnants like usernames and comments provided crucial digital breadcrumbs. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office traced the IP address, conducted interviews, and secured a confession after Josephine initially denied involvement. No firearms were found in her home, but authorities noted the ease of street access to weapons, a chilling reminder that intent can find means.
Sheriff Chitwood used the case to amplify the importance of community vigilance. In an era where online radicalization reaches younger demographics, parents and peers serve as the first line of defense. The Fortify Florida system’s success in this instance validates its design, offering a low-barrier avenue for concerned citizens to intervene before threats escalate. Yet the broader implications trouble experts: if a 12-year-old can research, draft, and post such a plan, how many others lurk in digital spaces absorbing the same toxic influences? The case underscores the urgency of monitoring not just gun access but the ideological ecosystems that transform troubled kids into aspiring killers.
Sources:
12-year-old girl arrested after threatening mass shooting at Volusia County middle school – WFTV
