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Teen In School Scare May Have Stolen Rifles

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 25, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG – Police think the bicycle-riding teenager seen toting three rifle cases had taken the guns from a home during a burglary earlier in the day.

The sightings prompted police to lock down seven Pinellas County schools Thursday.

The rifles were taken from a home in the 5300 block of 12th Avenue North, said St. Petersburg police spokesman George Kajtsa. The burglary was reported at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, but police think the burglary occurred earlier in the day when the residents were not home.

The victim reported three rifles in canvas bags had been stolen.

The schools that were locked down included Gibbs High School, Fairmount Elementary School, Boca Ciega High School, the Pinellas Technical Education Center, Gulfport Elementary School, Jamerson Elementary School and Hamilton Disston School, Kajtsa said.

Reports of the rifle-bag toting bicyclist kept coming in from different locations, Kajtsa said.

The bicyclist was described as 16 or 17 years old with a stocky build, about 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-6-inches tall. He was seen wearing dark pants and a dark pullover long-sleeve shirt. The bicycle was green.

No one saw a rifle, St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

Police are investigating a report that a student at Boca Ciega High School sent a threatening text message. Police have not determined whether the student and the bag-toting bicyclist are the same person, Proffitt said Thursday.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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