A 15-year-old Flagler Palm Coast High School student faces a felony aggravated assault charge after mimicking shooting two other students with a toy gun at school on Wednesday. The students were not aware that it was a toy gun.
Florida law does not distinguish between real and toy guns when either are used to give the impression that someone is armed, and criminal charges are filed accordingly.
The incident was initially reported by a student to one of the school’s resource deputies. A review of surveillance camera showed K.B., the 15 year old, reach into his backpack at 8:20 Wednesday morning while speaking to two students at the entrance to the main gym (known on campus as the 800 gym).
He then points the gun at the two other students, prompting one of them to seek protection in the bathroom. When that student reemerged from the bathroom, KB pointed the gun again, pulling the trigger several times.
“I kept flinching because I really thought it was done,” one of the students KB was targeting said, “like all of my life was over, my heart dropped when he kept pulling the trigger at me.” Students are immersed in fears about school shootings and safety messages about school shootings, so that particular student’s reaction could not have been a surprise.
All K.B. had said was that he was going to shoot the students, according to his arrest report.
At some point the students realized the gun had an orange tip, and determined it was not an actual firearm. It was made to look like a Glock handgun.
K.B. was pulled from his classroom shortly afterward and the backpack was seized. K.B. told the deputy he had a toy gun in the backpack–a gel blaster with graffiti drawings on it. K.B.’s mother, Sashana Jones, did not allow the deputy to speak with her son about the incident (it is parents’ and students’ right to decline to be interviewed by law enforcement).
“Never, ever threaten someone’s life, even with a fake gun,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “A prank like this will only get you arrested. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our schools. Fortunately, this was a fake gun, and the student immediately reported the incident and did exactly what they should have when threatened. Parents, talk to your children and be the Sheriff in your home. Otherwise, we will be, and your kid will be arrested!”
The student was booked at the Flagler County jail on an aggravated assault count and a count of improper exhibition of a firearm, the latter a misdemeanor, before he was transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Daytona Beach. School penalties vary, based on a variety of factors, though in this case the student’s infraction is categorized among the most severe in the district’s Student Code of Conduct.
TR says
Hey look another one of our bright future participants, Not. Sorry to say but unfortunately for the future of our country these are the types of people that some day will be in charge. Dame good thing I’m old enough to say that by the time (30 yrs) these kids of today will get to lead, I’ll be dead. Good luck to the future of this country.
Skibum says
If people are not held properly accountable within the criminal justice system for the bad things they do, then we can almost certainly guarantee there will be no lesson learned and we have merely increased the chances they will do it (or something worse) again. And yes, this applies to middle and high school age students as well, particularly when the behavior rises to the level of a felony offense. I have said before, ad nauseum, and will repeat yet again, how critical I believe it is in today’s world that EVERY school district should be mandated by law to include curriculum at the beginning of each school year for middle school students on up through high school regarding school violence issues to include prohibitions about bullying, and the stiff legal consequences for anyone that decides to bring a real or fake weapon to school, or who makes written threats of harm to students or school staff, or makes a fake bomb threat, etc. Every student needs to hear what the legal system consequences for this type of illegal behavior is, and THEN hold them accountable and prosecute them! You cannot tell me that at 15 years old, this student did no know by now that he should not have brought a fake gun to school and that he didn’t know it was a bad thing to use that fake gun threaten and make it look like he was shooting at the other students. But he will have his defenders saying oh he’s just a kid, he shouldn’t be treated like he’s an adult, he doesn’t have the capability of knowing yet not to do what he did, yada yada yada. Ridiculous. In another case just the other day, an 11-year old was in some type of dispute with two 13-year old teammates at football practice here in central FL when he ran to his mom’s car, pulled out a loaded gun from under the seat in the car, and shot and seriously wounded the two teammates, and has been arrested. And already last night on the news, there was a woman who was some type of juvenile advocate and was being interviewed about this arrest. She went on and on about how this poor little 11-year old was being abused by the criminal justice system, and how kids should not be arrested and put through the criminal justice system, even when they shoot and try to kill others, because they are “just kids” and there has to be another way to reach them and help them through whatever emotional problems they are dealing with that caused them to want to hurt someone. BS!!!!!!!!! Even at 11 years old, nobody will every be able to convince me that this kid somehow didn’t have the capacity to know it was wrong to run to his mom’s car and grab a loaded gun, and then try to murder two other kids who he was having problems with! These types of violent, unacceptable behavior by youngsters is increasing and will continue to increase if society doesn’t do a good job in the community AND in the schools to understand not only that it is wrong, but also what serious consequences result when felony crimes such as these are committed. I’m sorry, but coddling them, making excuses and dismissing very bad behavior, and not having strict legal consequences when a felony is committed by a juvenile is a certain recipe for future bad behavior, and is the worst kind of lesson that someone with a growing brain could receive because the only lesson often learned is that there are no real consequences for their actions. Do we really want THAT message to sink in?
Dennis C Rathsam says
When I grew up in the late 50,s & 60,s we played with toy guns everyday. We were cowboys, we were soldiers, we had fun! No one was hurt, no one was singled out. Just think 70% of kids in my class, how many more throughout the United States would have been arrested for playing. That toy gun should not have been brought to school, and he,s old enough to know better. It just proves how bad society has gotten. America was a better place, we were all safe, we played in the parks or the streets no one tryed to hurt us, or kidnap us. The USA was safe, we all got good educations, ( not the crap they teach today) we had wood shops, plastic shops, metal shops. All gone today. The moralls of these new Americans, is devestating…Whoray for me & F you! Sadly my time here is dwindeling. Ive allready been here longer than I imagined, I had a super wonderfull life, the American Dream, if you like. I lived I laughed & loved I was quite successfull. Everyday was a new adventure. I wish the kids of today could expierience playing outside, instead of sitting in front of thier laptops, being programed by websites thay shouldnt exist. We were the baby boomers, we learned from America greatest generation…They took the bull by the horns and saved America, now as they pass, a tear drops from thier eye knowing how good it once was. How good it was to be proud American!
DaleL says
Perhaps a better description for the “gun” would be a “replica” gun instead of a “toy” gun. From this article: “It was made to look like a Glock handgun.”
When I think of a “toy” gun, I think of a brightly colored toy, that cannot be mistaken for a real gun.
The situation created by “K.B.” was incredibly stupid. An armed officer, upon confronting “K.B.”, would have been justified in shooting him, on the presumption that he was actually armed and dangerous. “K.B.” and his parents should be happy he is alive and unharmed.
Atwp says
Dennis the USA was safe for some people, at that time. Look at the history of this country then.
Atwp says
Dennis the church bombing in Alabama Black children killed. The Mississippi bridge incident. The civil rights movement. Buses set afire because people wanted to vote and a higher standard of living. Don’t forget Selma Alabama. I believe it is called Bloody Sunday. The USA wasn’t safe for some people. Just saying.These are a very few stories that we know about. Only God know what happened to my people in the back woods especially in the deep kkk South. The world we live in.
Steve says
KB and his Parent(s) are lost in their own ways. Neither will hold the other Accountable. Hopefully Justice will be served
joseph falis says
I agree 110% with you and I believe the PARENTS of all students should be assembled to a meeting at the schools BEFORE the start of the new school year and be made 100% aware of the consequences of their students behaviors.
Concerned Citizen says
Unfortunately, you can buy very realistic looking Airsoft and Pellet Guns.
There are models that look exactly like a Gen 5 Glock or SIG P320. A friend of mines kid bought one online. And she found it in his room while at school. It was rapidly confiscated and destroyed. As a former Law Enforcement Officer and Firearms Instructor, there is no way to tell it is a none firing weapon when pointed. You can drop the mag on these things and rack the slide. Having no “safety markings” is a recipe for disaster.
When a Deputy or Officer enters a high threat area, they have seconds to decide what to do and sadly, a kid with a firearm can cause just as much damage as an adult. I agree with his actions being ignorant. And could not imagine the anguish a LEO would face using deadly force on a student. Only to find out it was not a real weapon.
I understand it is hard to know what your kids are up to at all times. But paying attention a little more helps.
Florida Moment says
If you’re under the impression they don’t get it from somewhere, you are sadly, sadly mistaken. Mom and Dad are not saints and your generation is not as squeaky clean as you’d like to imagine.
Florida Moment says
How on earth did you start with “in my day, we used to play with toy guns all the time” and switch to “actions like this, which are exactly what I was just talking about, are the reason our country has gone down the drain?” Bonus points for the Baby Boomer back-patting. Other generations exist and have merit. Maybe you should speak with some of them sometime.
The Geode says
I would be safer at a Klan meeting than I would be in the wrong neighborhood in ANY “inner city”. Hell, even in the RIGHT neighborhood, I would be safer at a Klan meeting. This pretending crap is getting tiresome…
endless dark money says
merican for profit justice depends on your bank account and what type of legal defence you can afford. Charging youth with crimes is a death sentence for a future. kinda why minors should be charged as minors. Maybe his parents counldnt afford the merican health care or is mental health excluded anyways. The purpetual punishments you reference above dont work and only truly serve to punish minorities disporpotionatly cause again american justice depends on the size of your bank account.