Florida Woman Threatened to ‘Burn Down’ High School After Daughter’s Boyfriend Lost His Lunch, Police Say
ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA — A Florida woman is facing felony charges after allegedly threatening to burn down and blow up a high school because her daughter’s boyfriend was denied a school lunch, according to police.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said 40-year-old Brandie Covington was arrested and charged with threatening to discharge a destructive device after making two angry phone calls to Rockledge High School on Tuesday morning.
Authorities said Covington was furious that cafeteria staff had taken away the boy’s school-supplied lunch because his account had insufficient funds.
‘I’ll Be Over There to Blow That F— School Up’
According to an arrest affidavit, the first call came around 10:50 a.m., when Covington allegedly called the school cafeteria and began yelling and cursing at an employee.
When the staff member tried to explain the school’s lunch policy, Covington reportedly threatened to “burn the school down” and added, “I’ll be over there to blow that f— school up.”
The cafeteria employee immediately hung up and notified the school resource officer.
Just five minutes later, Covington allegedly called again — this time reaching the vice principal — and repeated the same threats, saying she was angry over the unpaid lunch account issue.
“Covington began to cuss and scream at him and stated several times that she would burn the school down,” the affidavit stated.
Deputies Arrest Covington After Two Threat Calls
Investigators arrived at Covington’s Rockledge home a few hours later. After being read her Miranda rights, Covington admitted making both phone calls, saying she was “pissed off” because no one had returned her earlier complaint call about the issue.
However, she denied making any threats, despite both the cafeteria worker and vice principal reporting the explicit statements.
Deputies said her explanation was “mostly consistent” with the staff’s accounts but did not change the fact that her calls had caused an emergency response at the high school.
Covington was booked into the Brevard County Jail and later released on $75,000 bond.
School Officials Emphasize Zero Tolerance for Threats
Authorities confirmed no students were ever in danger, but school officials called the threats “unacceptable and alarming.” The Brevard County School District reiterated that all threats against schools are treated as credible until proven otherwise.
“We understand frustration when issues arise,” a district spokesperson said, “but violence and threats will never be tolerated.”
Covington is scheduled for a court appearance next month. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison under Florida law. For updates on crime and public safety news across the U.S., visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.