11-year-old boy arrested in Florida for threatening mass school shooting.
During questioning, the boy admitted to "joking" about the situation, but denied making explicit threats.
An 11-year-old boy was arrested in Port Orange, Florida, for threatening a mass school shooting, even though it may have been a "joke."
Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood reported that the juvenile made threats related to possible shootings at Creekside and Silver Sands Middle School.
The authorities found in his house rifles and airsoft pistols, fake ammunition, knives, swords and a notebook with a list of names of colleagues he allegedly wanted to harm. The arrest occurred after an anonymous complaint from another student.
During questioning, the boy admitted to "joking" about the situation, but denied making explicit threats. He claimed to have shown his airsoft weapons without clarifying that they were not real.
A video of the sheriff showing the boy generated mixed reactions on social media, with some praising Chitwood and calling for the parents to be identified, while others questioned the decision, arguing that the responsibility should fall on them.
Chitwood announced that they will take action against parents of minors who make threats of school shootings online, warning that they will publish the identity of detained minors and photos of their parents, stating: "If you are not raising your children, Sheriff Chitwood will ".