Who: 
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Patrol Operations Bureau

Amari Johnson (Arrested)
DOB: 05/29/2000 
Address: 1787 Shore Acres Boulevard North East, St. Petersburg
Charges: One count of Written Threats to Kill or do Bodily Injury; Electronic Communication

Lizette Johnson (Mother of suspect)
DOB: 06/22/1954
Address: 1787 Shore Acres Boulevard North East, St. Petersburg

Tashiyunia Flowers (Victim)
17 years old

Tasha Riley (Mother of victim)
DOB: 04/25/1975
 

What:
Detectives have arrested a 17-year-old girl for threatening to shoot a fellow high school student during a Facebook live video.

When:
The incident occurred on May 1, 2018, at about 5:40 p.m. 

The suspect was arrested May 2, 2018, at about 3:00 a.m. 

Where:
The statements and images were played out on Facebook live while the suspect was depicted at an unknown location.

The suspect was arrested at her residence located at 1787 Shore Acres Boulevard North East, St. Petersburg

Why/How:
Detectives have arrested a 17-year-old girl for threatening to shoot a fellow high school student during a Facebook live video.

According to investigators, the victim’s mother 43 year-old Tasha Riley informed deputies of statements and images played out on a Facebook live video threatening her 17-year-old daughter Tashiyunia Flowers.

Deputies say their investigation revealed the suspect identified as 17-year-old Amari Johnson, told the victim to view her Facebook Live video she was posting on May 1, 2018. During the video Johnson made threatening statements towards Flowers on the Facebook live video while Johnson was holding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle.

Deputies say Johnson is seen in the video talking to the victim stating "Let me just let you f***g know, I stay strapped on go, 24 mother f**** 7!" Johnson is then seen picking up what appeared to be an AR-15 rifle that she displayed to the camera.

The video then shows Johnson saying "A fat a** AR!!”, "I'll shoot your dumba**!!”

Deputies say Flowers commented on Johnson’s video post and Johnson responded by threatening to kill the victim by shooting her.

Flowers informed deputies that she was being bullied by Johnson at Bayside High School where they were both students.

On May 2, 2018, at approximately 3:00 a.m., deputies made contact with Johnson at her home located at 1787 Shore Acres Boulevard North East, St. Petersburg. Johnson’s mother was cooperative with the investigation and deputies confirmed that Johnson did not have access to firearms in her home.

Deputies arrested Johnson for written Threats to Kill or Do Bodily Injury; Electronic Communication. Johnson was transported to Pinellas County Juvenile Assessment Center without incident.

The Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate all complaints of this nature. We encourage the public to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately and we will diligently investigate all reported information.

The investigation continues.