Volusia County, FL - Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested two more middle school students for threatening their respective schools, making them the 21st and 22nd students to be charged by the department since the Valentine’s Day shooting in Parkland.
On Monday, a school resource deputy at New Smyrna Beach Middle School was called into the school at around 11:16 AM after there were reports made about a student threatening the school. According to the VCSO, a teacher at the school said one of her students approached her and said: “I am going to shoot up the school.”
The 13-year-old male student then shook a container of Tic Tac candy to mimic the sound of a gunshot and approached another student and said he was going to shoot them. Two students also witnessed the 13-year-old threaten to shoot up the school.
The boy was sent to the assistant principal’s office where he said he “was only joking around and was being sarcastic.” The student commented that one of his family members owns several firearms. The boy said multiple handguns and ammunition were in a safe, but that a shotgun and rifle were accessible. He was subsequently put under arrest.
At Holly Hill Middle School, an 11-year-old boy was arrested after he made threatening gestures. Deputies were informed that the student was sent to the dean’s office for being disruptive in class. His teacher informed officials that he moved his arm to look like he was cocking a shotgun and pointed it towards her to look as if he was loading the gun. The student then said “bang, bang.” The 11-year-old’s parent was contacted and he was arrested. The school suspended the student and he faces expulsion.
Both students were charged with “threatening to throw, project, place or discharge any destructive device with the intent to do bodily harm to another person” (Florida Statute 790.162). The charge is a felony and requires the Department of Juvenile Justice to take in all juveniles who make the violation.
The VCSO is urging parents to speak with their children about the potential consequences of making these types of threats. Sheriff Mike Chitwood has stated that the department will pursue criminal charges against any student who decides to make threats or jokes about acts of violence. He warns that defendants or their families will be liable for costs associated with wasting investigative resources on these false reports.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2018.
