Eleven Year Old Floridian Arrested Following Alarming School Threat

Gun and backpack on desk with school supplies.

An 11-year-old Florida student was arrested and charged with a felony for making a school shooting threat, as authorities take a hard stance against such incidents.

At a Glance

An 11-year-old in Florida was arrested for threatening a school shooting
Sheriff Mike Chitwood released the child’s mugshot and video, vowing to publicly shame offenders
The incident is part of a nationwide surge in school shooting threats
Authorities found airsoft guns and a list of targets in the child’s room
Experts advocate for behavioral threat assessments and standardized reporting systems

Florida Sheriff Takes Tough Stance on School Threats

In a bold move that has sparked controversy, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood has taken a hard-line approach to combat the rising tide of school shooting threats. The sheriff’s office arrested an 11-year-old student from Creekside Middle School for allegedly threatening a mass shooting and possessing a list of potential targets. In an unprecedented step, Sheriff Chitwood released the child’s mugshot and video, signaling a new era of public accountability for juvenile offenders.

The arrest came after authorities were alerted through Fortify Florida, an anonymous reporting system. Upon investigation, law enforcement discovered airsoft rifles, pistols, fake ammunition, knives, and swords in the child’s room, along with the alleged list of targets. Despite the student claiming the threat was a joke, Sheriff Chitwood emphasized the gravity of such actions.

11-year-old arrested for making a school shooting threat https://t.co/akjDPvEyE5

— ABC 27 (@abc27) September 6, 2024

Nationwide Surge in School Threats

The Florida incident is not isolated. Following a deadly school shooting in Georgia, there has been a troubling surge in school-related threats across the nation. Dozens of children and teens have been arrested and charged in connection with online school shooting threats. The Fortify Florida app alone received over 54 school shooting threats in less than 24 hours after the Apalachee High School shooting on September 4, 2024.

“Since parents, you don’t want to raise your kids, I’m gonna start raising them,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a news conference Friday. “Every time we make an arrest, your kids’ photo is going to be put out there and if I can do it, I’m gonna perp walk your kid so that everybody can see what your kid’s up to.”

The ripple effect of these threats has been felt across multiple states, including Florida, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Schools have been forced to implement increased security measures, with some even resorting to closures. In St. Louis, Lift for Life Academy shifted to e-learning after receiving a shooting threat, while over 20 schools in Chicago’s southwest suburbs closed due to similar threats.

Debate Over Public Shaming of Juveniles

Sheriff Chitwood’s decision to publicly name and shame juvenile offenders has ignited a heated debate. Supporters argue that it serves as a powerful deterrent, while critics worry about the potential long-term harm to the children involved. Florida law allows for the release of juvenile records when individuals are charged with a felony, but this practice is not common in many other states.

“Go talk to the families who have lost a loved one in a school shooting. These little knuckleheads think it’s funny. Go talk to those parents and see how funny this is. It’s not,” he said at Friday’s news conference.

Criminology professor Daniel Mears notes that juvenile records are typically kept confidential to give kids a second chance in life. However, the severity and frequency of these threats have pushed law enforcement to take more drastic measures.

Call for Proactive Measures

As the nation grapples with this surge in school shooting threats, experts are advocating for more proactive approaches. The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) emphasizes the importance of preventing hoaxes from disrupting schools. There are growing calls for implementing behavioral threat assessments and establishing a standardized national system for information reporting to mitigate these threats effectively.

While the debate over the appropriate response to juvenile threats continues, one thing remains clear: the safety of students and staff in educational institutions remains a top priority. As communities across the nation work to find a balance between deterrence and rehabilitation, the focus on preventing school violence has never been more critical.