Repeated warnings and pleadings by the sheriff and the superintendent to Flagler County students over the last few years not to joke about school shootings did not stop a 14-year-old Flagler Palm Coast High School student from doing just that on SnapChat on Monday, apparently knowing he might get in trouble. He did.
The student, M.P., now faces a second-degree felony charge even though it was him and his mother who requested to meet with a school resource officer at FPC this morning, and it was M.P. who disclosed the joking threat.
“M.P. was very apologetic and remorseful and realized that his actions could instill fear in the persons within the group,” the boy’s arrest affidavit said. “M.P. stated that he wrote slimeyou out #dontcome to school. When asked what slimeyouout meant M.P. stated that it means to hurt or shoot. M.P. stated he was immediately removed from the group but was added back a few hours later at which time he apologized and stated the comments were a joke.”
There were 13 students in the SnapChat group. One of them, called to the dean’s office, provided a screenshot of the communication by M.P., including the “I’m joking” disclaimer. There was a minor discrepancy over the precise terminology M.P. said he used and what the other student showed he used. “M.P. stated that he was trying to be edgy and using dark humor.” Nevertheless, he was placed under arrest for “written or electronic threat to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism,” as the affidavit describes it.
He was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility for processing, then transferred to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, from where he would typically be returned to his parents’ custody. The student is likely to end up with a probationary term and face a suspension from in-school instruction, though the district usually ensures that students continue to receive instruction at home.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for threats to schools,” Sheriff Rick Staly was quoted as saying in a release his agency issued this afternoon–a statement that was a variation of something the sheriff has said perhaps two dozen times in the last few years: there have been that many student arrests on similar charges. “This is not a joke; it is not funny. All threats will be taken seriously and will be investigated, and those who make them will be arrested. Parents, be the sheriff of your home and teach them that words have consequences and know what your children are saying and doing online. This student’s parent did the right thing by having him self-report to the SRD.” SRD stands for school resource deputy.
In a departure from previous practice in agency releases of the sort, the release did not name the student, though the image it released of the SnapChat screenshot included the student’s last name. FlaglerLive generally does not identify minors charged with crimes except in certain circumstances, among them when a firearm is involved in the allegation.
JimboXYZ says
Posting like that, it was a matter of time before law enforcement would be on their door step anyway. Might as well roll the dice & hope that someone has the same sense of humor about the SnapChat post. People have gotta learn that posting that kind of content in jest is still a felony & will b handled accordingly. Was it more an act of desperation to self report it since being caught was going to happen ? There’s no margin of error for even drafting that SnapChat before sending it off, not even a text or email. Kid made a mistake in life & it’s going to be dealt with because the adults that are in charge are just that, in charge & they have zero margin to make a call that something was or wasn’t the class clown just being the class clown. Glad nobody in my family was the class clown, even back when I was a child before school shootings became more common events. That lesson needs to be drilled in to every child’s head by any parent for 2026 & beyond, scrambling law enforcement for a threat is not an option for social media. That’s the wrong joke to comment/post.
Who knows, maybe self reporting it might reduce probation or whatever the sentence is for a juvenile. He’s 14, has 3 years to establish a clean record for one moment that was self inflicted & stupid.
Pogo says
The Moving Finger texts; and, having sent,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
― paraphrasing, Omar Khayyám
Erod says
“Well stupid is as stupid does” Forrest Gump circa 1959.
blondee says
They’re all apologetic and remorseful after they’re busted
R.S. says
Nope. I think he published the fact that it was a joke, and the kid who turned it in knew that he had added the disclaimer. Here’s the information: “There were 13 students in the SnapChat group. One of them, called to the dean’s office, provided a screenshot of the communication by M.P., including the “I’m joking” disclaimer.”
TR says
You would think that with all the teenagers that have been arrested for similar things. The rest of the teenagers would learn it’s not a good idea to make threats of any kind and not have to pay the price. Guess it takes longer for some to see what will happen if one makes those kinds of threats.
R.S. says
I’d take a closer look at the student who ratted on him, particularly if the accuser stepped into the fray after the apology had already been posted. There’s a point where one should simply understand when no danger is implied.
BIG Neighbor says
Exactly what I was thinking, sad to think how watching others deliberately provoke others into anger to watch them overreact, then entertain themselves with the aftermath of their target’s demise. Not saying that’s what happened here, but knowing how things toxic are celebrated and even monetized now, it wouldn’t surprise me.
https://sites.google.com/site/macrocausem/cyber-bullying-another-term-for-politics