False threats clear for Harmony football, but 9 arrests and 11 stitches complicate Friday night

The Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School football game remains on the schedule for Friday, Oct. 23, following a review of shooting threats that authorities have labeled false. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office confirmed the event would proceed after investigating a tip received Thursday night and subsequent text messages that spread through the school on Friday morning.

To manage the situation, the sheriff's office is deploying additional deputies, K-9 units, and mounted patrol officers to the venue. Officers from the St. Cloud Police Department will also be present on site. This expanded security package was announced alongside the agency's decision to keep the game on the calendar.

The threats gained traction after nine students were arrested in connection with an assault on another teenager. The attack occurred on Oct. 16 near Harmony High School. Witnesses reported that the group targeted a 17-year-old who had intervened during a lunch period when students were throwing carrots at a girl. The victim was transported to a hospital, where medical staff administered 11 stitches.

Investigators linked the beating to that specific lunch incident. On Oct. 21, authorities arrested nine students, with ages ranging from 14 to 18. The group faces charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot. The sheriff's office stated that the person responsible for the false shooting threats claimed they were attributed to the injured teenager. Officials examined that claim and found it to be inaccurate as well.

Captain Kim Montes of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office indicated that the false reports could lead to further legal action. “False reports of a shooting will not be tolerated and if the suspect is identified, that person will be charged,” Montes said. As of Friday, the agency had not identified the origin of the threats or established a connection between the threatener and the injured student.

The security details were finalized as the school prepared for the evening game. The presence of K-9s and mounted units represents the specific additions to the standard law enforcement coverage for the event. The sheriff's office maintained that the threats were unfounded after reviewing both the initial tip and the circulating messages.