An 11-year-old boy was charged with a felony on Monday for planning a mass shooting after showing his friends a collection of weapons and making violent threats during a FaceTime video call.
The minor, a resident of Volusia County, Florida, and a student at Creekside Middle School, displayed to his friends an array of air rifles, pistols, and knives, and mentioned a hit list of people he wanted to kill.
In a social media post, Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood wrote: “We’ve just arrested a Creekside Middle School student who threatened to carry out a shooting at Creekside Middle School or Silver Sands,” noting that the detainee claimed it was “all a joke.”
The child's identity has been withheld due to the seriousness of the accusation against a minor. However, according to an incident report sent to CNN by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found during a home search "several airsoft-style rifles and pistols, magazines, fake ammunition designed to look realistic, and various knives and swords."
The arrest followed an anonymous tip from another student at Creekside Middle School, leading officers to investigate a group of students from both Creekside and Silver Sands who had participated in the FaceTime conversation with the minor, the report detailed.
The other children confirmed the accuracy of the report and stated they had seen the weapons, though they could not determine if they were real during the video call.
This incident comes just over 10 days after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, where four people lost their lives and several others were injured. Another minor was arrested and charged as an adult, and his father was also detained and charged with multiple counts, including involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children.
Understanding the Volusia County School Incident
This section provides answers to some frequently asked questions about the recent incident involving the 11-year-old boy in Volusia County, Florida.
What charges were brought against the 11-year-old boy?
The boy was charged with a felony for planning a mass shooting after making violent threats during a FaceTime video call.
What did authorities find in the boy's home?
Authorities found several airsoft-style rifles and pistols, magazines, fake ammunition designed to look realistic, and various knives and swords.
How did the authorities become aware of the threats?
An anonymous tip from another student at Creekside Middle School led the authorities to investigate the situation.