- March 5, 2025
William Gerald Hofer, whose threats in December caused three schools to lock down for a day, was sentenced on Monday to three years of probation.
Hofer’s probationary term may be terminated early if he meets its terms.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office locked down Flagler Palm Coast High School, Matanzas High School and the Palm Coast campus of Daytona State College on Dec. 12, fearing that Hofer might attack one of the campuses. Law enforcement said Hofer posted threatening messages on his Facebook page, leading to the lockdowns and search.
The lockdowns were implemented just before 9 a.m. What followed was a day-long manhunt that culminated in Hofer’s arrest after Hofer was found near Flagler Beach.
Hofer was originally charged with written threat to do bodily injury, a second-degree felony. On Monday, he pled no contest to a lesser charge of fraud offense against computer users.
Hofer, 20, is a former FPC student. His threats came two days before the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., which killed 28 people.
