Text hit list spreads through school: Teen shot

In Florida over the past two weeks the story of teens with a "text hit list" has spread through the headlines.  Texting and driving is deadly, however now we have another cause for parents to be concerned about.

Anthony Jones, 16 year-old teen in Jacksonville, Florida was shot on April 16th.  His aunt, Cheryl Simmons said that he received a threatening text just two weeks prior.  She believes the text message, which listed other names, is a hit list, and the shooting is connected to it. Ms. Simmons also said that her nephew received phone calls prior to being shot that he was going to be shot. She believes these threats are related to the shooting.

Cheryl Simmons went straight to Rains High School and filed a report with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office as soon as she learned of the threatening text message. Simmons has said that her nephew and son are two of six people called out in the anonymous text message to be "offed," she said. "This is my child's life. I'm not ready, I'm not ready to ride behind a hearse with him."

 Anthony Jones is recovering in the hospital while the police are still looking for a suspect. Source: First Coast News

Just this past March, text rage is being blamed on the explosive actions of Wayne Treacy as he nearly beat Josie Ratley to death. 

Parenting teens today has become more challenging than ever.  With technology expanding and texting slowly becoming the number one way to communicate, especially among teenagers, parents and educators need to ban together and form an alliance to prevent bullying and cyberbullying.

Education is key to prevention.  Schools and parents need to join forces and communicate with their teens thinking before they text, pausing before they click. 

Parents and teachers can start by learning the texting and chat lingo. Click here.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.