(© FlaglerLive)
Yet another Flagler County school student has been arrested in connection with making threats to harm another. The 14-year-old Indian Trails Middle School student made the threat in a video he recorded while holding a gun belonging to his parents. The incidents took place off campus.
It all started over rumors spreading at Indian Trails about the boy and the girl having sex. When the girl heard the rumor, she confronted the boy, 14, and slapped him.
On Thursday (Feb. 14), the boy produced a video of himself with the gun saying he was “sick of people and he was going to kill someone,” according to the description of the video provided in his arrest report. The “someone” he was referring to allegedly was the girl. He sent the video to another girl who is friends with his alleged intended victim, directing her to show it to the girl so she was clear of his intentions.
The friend showed the video to the intended victim, and both girls were afraid that the boy would follow through on his intention, according to his arrest report, because the boy lives minutes away from the girl’s house.
The incident was first reported to school staff at Indian Trails, which relayed the information to a school resource deputy. The deputy spoke to the boy who, after being given his Miranda warning, spoke to the deputy in the presence of the boy’s parents. He claimed he and the girl had been intimate at his house but that when “the rumor started to circulate around school,” the report states, the girl “got mad” and struck him twice on two separate occasions. The boy said “he was pissed off,” went home, and produced the video, which he showed the deputy.
The boy was arrested and booked at the county jail on a felony charge of making written threats to kill.
It is not clear how the boy got possession of his parents’ firearm, though a release issued by the Sheriff’s Office Friday states: ” Keep the firearm in a securely locked box or container; Keep the firearm in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or secure the firearm with a trigger lock. Never leave a firearm where a minor may have access to it.”
It is a second-degree misdemeanor, under Florida law, to leave a weapon unsecured and within reach of minors, though the law is seldom enforced.
The release, which applauds the see-something-say-something approach that helped bring this latest incident to light, mentions neither the law about securing firearms nor potential penalties for violating it. The law states: “A person who stores or leaves, on a premise under his or her control, a loaded firearm, as defined in s. 790.001, and who knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the minor’s parent or the person having charge of the minor, or without the supervision required by law, shall keep the firearm in a securely locked box or container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure or shall secure it with a trigger lock, except when the person is carrying the firearm on his or her body or within such close proximity thereto that he or she can retrieve and use it as easily and quickly as if he or she carried it on his or her body.”
“This has to stop,” Sheriff Rick Staly is quoted as saying in the release. “Students – violence is not the answer and will only get you in serious trouble. Parents – we have been spreading the message ‘see something, say something’ for over a year now. With cell phones and social media, it is more important than ever to pay attention to what your children are doing online, get involved in their lives, and make sure your children know right from wrong and the consequences they face if they make the wrong choice. We have a zero tolerance policy for threats in Flagler County.”
The Indian Trails-related incident is merely the latest in a long series of similar incidents and arrests of students over the past year following verbal or written threats, some allegedly made jokingly. The law does not distinguish between threats made jokingly or seriously. Earlier this week a Buddy Taylor Middle School student was arrested on a felony charge for allegedly threatening to shoot up the school while he was playing on a live, interactive video game with two friends the previous weekend. That incident also took place off campus, and was reported by the boy’s friends.
Concerned Citizen says
What is wrong with kids these days?
Why has it become acceptable to make threats to others? Do kids think it’s funny and believe that there are no consequences for their actions? If so the charges need to stick and judges need to sentence accordingly.
Also if there are laws in effect to ensure that fire arms are secured then they need to be enforced also. This is the second case in as many moths that a student was able to obtain a weapon.
I suppose this child will also cry that he was bullied and has mental health issues. What it boils down to is these kids need discipline
ASF says
The courts will release him to the custody of his parents who sound fully equipped to supervise him (yes, that IS sarcasm.)
Hammock Bear says
Hope the judge will give the teen and his parents Community Service and to get counseling. We are all on the earth together and learning begins at home.
Mark says
@ concerned citizen,
Parents are what’s wrong with kids today.
hawkeye says
As a person who has been around guns over 55 years,(as a child ,only with my Dads supervision), I want to say that this kids parents should be in a lot of trouble for leaving a firearm where this kid could get at it.This kid sounds a little mentally disturbed to begin with and his parents probably arent much better, and I really dont give a shit if anyone doesnt like me saying that. There has to start being some accountability for peoples actions. I am so tired of people trying to rationalize the actions of demented people.This kid needs to be locked up and so do his parents.
Francesca says
And the parents just have guns lying around……. They are the problem.
Richard says
What amazes me is the fact that the parents are skating scot free even though they have broken a law in regards to how firearms in Florida should be secured and stored. “It is a second-degree misdemeanor, under Florida law, to leave a weapon unsecured and within reach of minors, though the law is seldom enforced.” Well that quote from the article tells all about the direction of this country. When there are no consequences for breaking the law then why have the law in the FIRST place? Only USE it when it’s convenient! How many times have we seen this happen in the last decade or longer? No wonder the kids today are so messed up! They are getting so many “mixed” signals about what is right and what is wrong. We are a nation of LAWS but as of today who really cares?
Concerned Citizen says
As a former Law Enforcement Officer I will say this.
Yes 2A guarantees you the right to legally and responsibly own fire arms. This means that you keep them secured at all times. Even more so if you have children. For those with a concealed carry you have a greater responsibility because of your permit. And you should have had training prior to it’s issue.
As a gun owner you are responsible for that weapon 24/7. Stop leaving them in vehicles and laying around the house. A trigger lock or gun box can be gotten relatively inexpensive. I live alone and in a rural setting and still don’t leave weapons unsecured. It’s just not worth it.
If you have to have a weapon to feel safe then part of that feeling safe should be knowing it’s secure. And it’s the law !!
Sherry says
Although we have very limited gun safety laws in Florida, even those don’t seem to be enforced. The sheriff needs to move swiftly in strongly ENFORCING the law broken by the parents. If possible, certainly all guns in the possession of this family should be immediately and permanently confiscated.
AFTER that, the child AND his parents need counseling!
Agkistrodon says
The Right to bear arms, Shall NOT be infringed. “To Bear” One meaning from the time of writing of the 2A is, to be responsible for and accountable for at ALL times. Put the parents in a cell and ensure they are convicted felons so they can NEVER legally own a firearm again. I am so sick of so called “adults” who show an incredible lack of responsibility, and then THEIR actions are used against LAW ABIDING citizens who SECURE their weapons, Like me.
IndianTrailsMom says
What is wrong with this county these days. My son’s counselor called me to say that he is randomly being reassigned to another school. No transition, no warning and the counselor didn’t even know about this incident. Why are the schools getting more money for mental health if they are not using it for the students?
Too much gets swept under the rug with this new superintendent. He seems more interested in the money than the kids.