School and law enforcement officials are being asked to review a controversial message displayed on a Freeport High School football player’s backplate before Friday night’s rivalry game.
A photo circulating on social media has raised concerns among parents and community members after it appears to show a Freeport football player’s back plate displaying the phrases “3 Targets,” “3 Traitors,” and “Kill them all,” alongside three photographs of Destin football players.
On Friday, October 23rd at 6:16 PM, Jennifer Laird posted the image on Facebook with the headline, “This is what Coach Bobby Johns allows his players to do!” That same night, the Freeport Bulldogs went against their rivals, the Destin Sharks. The photo was posted and shared before the game, set to start at 7 PM.
The photos allegedly depict Kynlee Cuchens, Donnie Couitt, and Joshua Koonce. The three are currently football players at Destin High School and previously played football at Freeport.
Multiple parents have publicly expressed concerns about the message and its intended meaning, while others have questioned what actions, if any, school officials should take.
In response to questions about the general legal implications of threatening language, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office explained it “can rise to the level of a criminal matter in Florida when it contains a credible threat of violence and is directed toward an identifiable person or group in a way that could reasonably cause fear.
“Investigators would consider how the message was created or displayed, whether it was intended as an actual threat or as competitive banter, how a reasonable person would interpret it, and whether it targeted anyone or made anyone feel endangered. Not every inappropriate or unsportsmanlike statement meets the legal threshold for a criminal offense.”
At this time, the Sheriff’s Office has no open investigation into the back plate’s language.
As of publication, district administrators, athletic officials, and coaches have been contacted for comment. This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.
