Game on: St. Cloud and Harmony teams set to play under expanded security

The high school football game between Harmony and St. Cloud is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, with an increased law enforcement presence. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office confirmed the event would proceed after investigating reports of a planned shooting and finding them to be unfounded.

The decision to play comes after a multi-agency investigation into threats that surfaced following the arrest of nine students. The sheriff's office stated it first received a tip Thursday night claiming a shooting would occur at the game. Text messages containing the same threat began circulating among students Friday morning. Deputies examined both the initial report and the digital messages, concluding neither was genuine.

Security for the Friday evening match includes additional deputies, K-9 units, and mounted patrol officers. Officers from the St. Cloud Police Department will also be on site. This expanded arrangement accompanies the agency's official confirmation that the game remains on the schedule.

Investigators noted that the person behind the false threats attributed the plan to the teenager injured in a prior attack. Officials examined that specific claim and determined it was also incorrect. The sheriff's office had not identified the originator of the threats or established any relationship between that person and the injured student.

The context for the current security measures traces back to an incident on Oct. 16 near Harmony High School. Several students allegedly attacked and beat a 17-year-old, who was transported to a hospital and received 11 stitches. Authorities linked the assault to a lunch period dispute where the teenager intervened after a group of students threw carrots at another girl. Nine students, ages 14 to 18, were arrested Oct. 21 on charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot.

OCSO Captain Kim Montes addressed the false reports, stating that they would not be tolerated. "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 source of the threats remained unknown.