A chilling wave of threats has swept through Volusia County, Florida schools, leading to the arrests of two students – one just 10 years old, the other 11 – in separate incidents this week. Authorities acted swiftly, underscoring a zero-tolerance policy for any hint of school violence.
The 11-year-old student at DeLand Middle School now faces a second arrest in under a year for allegedly targeting teachers with menacing messages. He reportedly used another student’s account to send a direct threat – “imma shoot you” – to seven educators.
This latest arrest occurred while the student was already enrolled in a diversion program stemming from a similar incident last October at Southwestern Middle School. In that case, a group message containing the same chilling phrase, “IM GONNA SHOOT YOU,” was sent through another student’s school account.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the profound disruption these threats cause, diverting crucial time and resources from ensuring the safety of the district’s 63,000 students and 4,400 teachers. The message is clear: threats will be met with serious consequences.
Earlier in the week, a 10-year-old student at Pride Elementary School allegedly penned a terrifying plan on a classroom whiteboard. In permanent marker, he declared his intention to bring a gun to school and then meticulously listed the individuals he intended to harm.
The chilling note, titled “list of people who i'm gunna kill,” prompted immediate action, resulting in a felony charge of making a written threat to kill. Despite the child’s claim that the threats were not serious, authorities moved forward with the arrest.
Parents of those named on the list were immediately notified, and while the student’s family stated he had no access to firearms, officials stressed that intent alone carries significant repercussions. This case serves as a stark warning to parents about the importance of open communication.
School officials are urging parents to actively monitor their children’s digital activity and discuss the gravity of making threats, both online and offline. They are working closely with law enforcement and behavioral threat assessment teams to proactively identify and address potential dangers.
Every threat, regardless of perceived intent, is being taken with the utmost seriousness. The goal is to create a safe learning environment for all students and staff, and to ensure that genuine threats are not overlooked amidst a sea of false alarms.
These incidents highlight a growing concern and a renewed commitment to protecting schools. The message to students is unequivocal: actions have consequences, and threats will not be tolerated.
