A 15-year-old student has been arrested for allegedly making threats to carry out a school shooting at Choctawhatchee High School, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

• Joel Bravo-Jaramillo has been charged with issuing a written/electronic threat to commit a mass shooting and using a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Choctawhatchee High School officials were made aware of the threats on Jan. 16 and immediately notified law enforcement and took additional actions, the OCSO said in a press release. Witnesses told investigators that Bravo-Jaramillo had allegedly been making increasingly specific threats between December 2025 and January 2026.

No weapons were found. The OCSO said a forensic analysis of his phone revealed it contained a document titled “List 2026,” containing names of students who attend or have attended Choctawhatchee High School.

During an interview with OCSO investigators, the teen admitted he made the statements but said they were “jokes,” the OCSO said.

• Bravo-Jaramillo was taken into custody at the Okaloosa Academy on Feb. 9 and transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice facility near Crestview.

Sheriff Eric Aden reminded students and the community that threats of violence, whether made in person or online, are taken seriously and can lead to criminal charges. He said statements about harming others create real fear, disrupt schools and have lifelong consequences.

“I commend those who reported the threats. Their willingness to speak up may have prevented a dangerous situation,” Aden said. “Reporting concerns is the best way to protect your classmates, your school, your community, and yourself. I encourage parents to please talk to your children about the seriousness of violent statements and the importance of reporting concerning behavior immediately to school administrators or law enforcement. We are proud of our successful partnership with the Okaloosa County School District as well as those who did the right thing and came forward.”

Superintendent Marcus Chambers said the district will not tolerate threats of violence that disrupt the safety and security of its campuses.

• “As superintendent, I have zero tolerance for threats of violence that disrupt the safety and security of our campuses. Any threat, whether made in person, in writing, or online, will be taken seriously and addressed immediately,” Chambers said. “We are extremely thankful that a student chose to speak up and report this concerning behavior. Because of that courageous decision, school administration and law enforcement were able to take immediate action. This is exactly how our safety systems are designed to work: ‘see something, say something.'”

Chambers commended the students who came forward and encouraged all students and parents to continue communicating concerns directly to school administrators or law enforcement.

“We are grateful for the swift response and strong partnership of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Our collaboration with law enforcement is critical to maintaining safe and secure campuses,” Chambers said. “Together, we will ensure that any actions that threaten the safety of our schools are addressed promptly, disciplined appropriately, and, when warranted, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We remain united in our commitment to keeping our schools safe, secure, and focused on teaching and learning.”

Anyone with information about threats or suspicious behavior is urged to contact the OCSO at 850-651-7400 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers.