Rebekah Jones' Son Charged with Felony for School Shooting Threats

Santa Rosa County, Florida – The 13-year-old son of former Florida state employee Rebekah Jones was arrested and charged with a second-degree felony for allegedly making written or electronic threats of a school shooting. The arrest in April 2023 followed an investigation into online messages and memes posted on social media platforms like Snapchat and Discord, targeting Holley-Navarre Middle School.

According to police reports, multiple students reported the threats, with one stating that Jones' son had expressed a desire to "shoot up the school" and "stab people." Messages found during a search warrant reportedly included references to the Columbine High School massacre and phrases such as, "I want to shoot up the school." The boy, identified as J.J. in court records, was being homeschooled at the time of his arrest.

Rebekah Jones, known for her role as a COVID-19 data whistleblower and vocal critic of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, claimed the arrest was politically motivated retaliation. In a tweet, Jones stated, "My son has been taken on the gov’s orders," suggesting it was linked to a lawsuit she filed against the Florida Department of Health. She maintained that her son only reposted internet memes that were not threatening.

Authorities stated that during an interview, the teenager told police he had no intention of carrying out the shooting, and no weapons were found at his home. Despite his claims and his mother's assertions of political targeting, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office proceeded with the charges based on the content of the threats. In May 2024, J.J. was sentenced to an indefinite period of probation for the charges.