Florida Student Arrested for School Shooting Threat: Authorities Crack Down on Juvenile Threats
An 11-year-old student from Creekside Middle School in Port Orange, Florida, has been charged with a felony after threatening to carry out a mass shooting at two middle schools, according to Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood. The child allegedly created a list of students he intended to harm and was involved in a FaceTime conversation where he displayed weapons to other students.
The incident unfolded when an anonymous tip from another student led authorities to investigate. Upon searching the 11-year-old’s home, detectives found airsoft rifles, pistols, and various knives. A list of potential targets was also recovered, with the student admitting to making the list but claiming it was a “joke” and that he had no intention of harming anyone.
Although the juvenile denied making direct threats, he confessed to showing his classmates the airsoft weapons and knives. The students involved reported seeing the weapons but were uncertain whether they were real. Despite the child’s claim that his comments were made in jest, he faces serious legal consequences under Florida law. The juvenile has been charged with intimidation through a written threat of a mass shooting or terrorism act, a significant felony charge that emphasizes the seriousness of such threats, even if claimed to be a joke.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office responded quickly to the incident, underscoring the importance of addressing all school threats with urgency. This arrest comes amid a rise in reported school shooting threats across Florida, with Sheriff Chitwood highlighting that 54 calls regarding school shootings had been deemed false but still resulted in investigations.
Chitwood further announced that authorities would hold parents accountable for their children’s actions if such threats continued. Starting Monday, Sheriff Chitwood warned, authorities would publicly release the identities of both the juveniles and their parents in such cases, adding, “Parents, get your kids in line, or your checkbook’s gonna hurt and your pride’s gonna hurt.”
This incident serves as a reminder of the growing concern over school safety and the severe consequences of making violent threats, even as a joke. For more detailed coverage on this case, visit CNN’s report.
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Law enforcement stresses the need for parents to monitor their children’s activities, particularly on social media and during online interactions, to prevent such incidents from escalating.