St. Johns County adds officers at schools over AI threat trend

Extra law enforcement officers patrolled St. Johns County school campuses Sept. 8, after a wave of AI-generated "Cat in the Hat" threat videos spread across social media.

Sheriff's Office finds no credible threats

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said in a Sept. 7 post on X that it was investigating the posts and had found no credible threats. The agency said it was working with the school district and would increase its presence at campuses countywide.

District, state officials review content with no threat identified

Superintendent Brennan Asplen sent a safety message to parents Sept. 7, confirming the district is reviewing the content with the Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Education's Office of Safe Schools. Asplen said no credible direct or indirect threat had been identified, according to the St. Johns Citizen.

Schools operated on their normal schedule Tuesday.

Student says trend "puts us in danger"

Kaleah Edgar, a Nease High School student, told Action News Jax she felt "a little bit shook" when she first saw the posts. She welcomed the extra officers but said the trend puts students at risk.

"Using AI to edit them at schools, knowing people go here. It's just putting us in danger, especially because we're kids," Edgar said.

Trend features doctored images naming specific schools

The viral trend features AI-generated images and videos of a sinister version of the Dr. Seuss character lurking outside schools, homes and neighborhoods, often styled to look like grainy security camera footage, the Coloradoan reported. The posts frequently name specific schools or students. The trend originated in the United Kingdom before reaching the United States, according to WTVM.

District officials did not identify which St. Johns County schools appeared in the posts or share details about the content under review.

Trend has led to arrests, charges in other states

The trend has already led to arrests elsewhere. A 14-year-old in Grand Junction, Colorado, was arrested Aug. 31 on suspicion of interference with students of educational institutions and harassment after sharing a threatening version of the meme, the Coloradoan reported. In Tennessee, a Warren County high school student was charged with making threats of mass violence on school property in connection with a similar post, according to WSMV.