Harmony football proceeds with added police after threats cleared

Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School will play their scheduled football game on Friday, October 23, with a larger number of law enforcement officers on site. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office confirmed the match would go ahead after investigators ruled out shooting threats that had circulated among students.

The department initially received a tip on Thursday night claiming a shooting would occur during the game. Text messages containing the same warning spread around the school on Friday morning. Officials stated that deputies investigated both the initial report and the digital messages, determining neither threat was genuine. As of Friday, the specific source of the threats remained unknown.

To ensure safety, the sheriff's office deployed additional deputies to the high school. This expanded force included K-9 units and mounted patrol officers. Officers from the St. Cloud Police Department were also assigned to be present at the venue. These security measures were announced alongside the confirmation that the game would proceed in the evening.

The rumors followed a violent incident near the school on October 16. Several students attacked a 17-year-old, who was transported to a hospital and received 11 stitches. Authorities linked the assault to a lunch period incident where the teenager stood up to a group throwing carrots at a girl. The beating occurred after that lunch period.

Nine students, aged between 14 and 18, were arrested on October 21. They face charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot. Investigators also examined a claim that the person responsible for the false shooting threats had attributed them to the injured teenager. Officials found that specific allegation to be false as well.

OCSO Captain Kim Montes stated that the department would not tolerate false reports. She noted that if the suspect is identified, that person will be charged with a crime. The sheriff's office has not yet established whether the unknown threatener has any relationship with the injured student.

The game serves as the first major school event since the arrests. The presence of extra police and dogs marks a visible security shift for the Friday night crowd. The school district maintained its schedule while the county handled the security logistics.