A 15-year-old student at Flagler Palm Coast High School is facing a second-degree felony charge of making written threats to kill following a conflict with two other students that led to allegedly threatening messages posted on social media.
One of the texts produced by a student for FPC’s dean and found on SnapChat was allegedly by the 15-year-old making overt death threats, pointing the threats at two individuals, and picturing himself exhaling smoke, according to his arrest report.
One of the two victims told the dean that when he first saw a SnapChat threat two days ago he didn’t think it was serious, but did think the 15 year old was trying to intimidate him. The conflict, he said, had begun over some belongings the 15 year old accused him and the other target of threats of taking at gym class, and of flushing those down the toilet–a charge the target of the threats denies.
The 15-year-old student acknowledged to a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy that he made the SnapChat post the afternoon of April 25 “because he was tired of being bullied and picked on,” according to his arrest report, and that “he did not mean it.” He was placed under arrest and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
“Bullying is never acceptable and making threats to settle the score is not a joke and will always be taken seriously,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement issued this afternoon. “We don’t like making these arrests, but we will come knocking on your door if your child makes any threat to harm someone. Parents, talk to your kids and be the Sheriff in your home and teach them what to do if they are bullied. They should report bullying to the SRD or school administrators.” SRD refers to school resource deputies: there is at least one in every school.
“There are also school counselors available,” the sheriff continued. “If you are a bully, STOP IT! You could be the impetus to a school shooting. Thank you to the student who alerted school administrators who then reported the threat to the SRD.”
Students arrested on such charges are typically released to their parents pending juvenile court proceedings, where the charge is generally disposed through probation and letters of apology and a sealed juvenile record, assuming the individual does not re-offend.
Speedyfaith says
Not condoning this type of behavior: but what does the district do to those who bully? Often times the bullying goes reported by the victim & the parents, but nothing is done to the perpetrators. If something is done, it serves no useful purpose and the perpetrator goes right back and harasses the victim even more. Most of the time, it is the retaliation that is caught and prosecuted. Very sad.
Joy Mullins says
You hit the nail on the head Speedyfaith. This is sadly so true in all bullying cases.
TR says
I agree, maybe someone should take the person who is doing the bullying back behind a shed and give him a good old butt kicking. Talking to a bully does no good and if someone is bullying someone else, most likely there are problems at home and so talking to the parents will also do no good. JMO
Denali says
DISCALIMER: I am not condoning threats or violence in any way, shape or form.
Now, if this teenager were an old, fat, white guy, (like me) our super-sheriff would be praising him and no arrest would have been made because he stood his ground. He pushed back against bullies and should be held up as an example of how to respond to bullies. Sure this is pushing the boundaries of the law but hey, the law gets stretched everyday by “adults” so I see no issue.
Seriously, our schools have failed again. They have failed not only the kid who was bullied but also the bullies themselves by allowing them to think their obnoxious, rude and childish behavior is acceptable in our society. Then again, the examples set for these kids by “adults” have led them to think this boorish behavior is normal. So now the real victim will be punished and the little bastard bullies will skate.
Anon says
Good point and question. What about someone defending themselves in a fight. An aggressor can punch another and if the other doesn’t turn the other cheek, they will get in trouble, too.
Concerned Parent says
There’s way to much bullying going on in that school!! Kids do whatever they damn please in that school!! There’s no accountability at all. You tell a teacher or deputy something and it’s never followed up on. If I was that child’s parent I’d sue the county. Your child is supposed to be protected at ALL times. That’s their job!! They need to get off their high horses and do something about all the crap going on!! Brandishing knives, kids throwing each other on the tables during lunch. I have a video of two kids fighting in a restroom and nothing was done to either student. FLAGLER COUNTY SCHOOLS SUCK!!!
BIG Neighbor says
Actually, it’s not unusual to see this sort of targeting in work cultures….getting passive aggressive types to emotionally trip on themselves so they over-react, do something radical like using a gun, then have to be contained, incarcerated, reprimanded or let go. So it’s not a stretch to see how kids learn malicious intent from some parents and then practice in packs, refining this craft through gaslighting each other in their reach behind gaming consoles like they’re void of any reverence for anything or anybody…. nothing sacred. All because misery loves company. It hard to turn toxic culture around. But it starts by adults calling out adults….not to gain advantage but out of love. Find the video Mr Rodgers and Me talking about Columbine
Take a good look says
ALL of these comments made are right on point! Bullying STILL remains a HUGE problem in all the Flagler County Public Schools… and unfortunately after implementing a “no bullying zone” and other so called interventions there has been no success in finding a solution to this most pervasive and devastating issue. Yes… more often than not, the bullies will lie about their role (with staff feeding into that) which results in victim blaming instead. It is definitely a twisted mess.. I’ve seen it happen since my own children were in these schools..and I see it with my grandchildren in these same schools today… and the tragedies continue
Flagler Strikes Again says
Shame, kids life is ruined because he felt like he had to take matters into his own hand; even if just verbally. Because the people who are around him, there to protect him, have failed him.
Jennyd's says
There is no control over these bullies at that school. Too many times you here nothing even about it because they don’t want everyone to know how bad it is. Our school system is a damn joke and it will never change if we don’t start defending and sticking up for these kids. My daughter was harassed and bullied by coaches at this school and after multiple attempts to “fix” it she made the decision to walk away from the game she loved. We were told by staff and AD there wasn’t enough evidence to support our concerns. Complete BULLS**T. What these bullies both young and old don’t understand is that your creating long teem problems for these kids, mental, and emotionally . I let the school know I would do whatever I needed to defend my child and if that meant an old school but whooping I’m down. I’m tired of the way this kinda sh*t goes down and the ones doing the bullying get scared when the roles are reversed. Pathetic school system
Bully Hater says
[Please comply with our comment policy. Thank you.–FL]
Do what I did when my son was getting bullied, I confronted the bully, his response was “you can’t do anything to me.”
I said “that’s true, but I know where you live and I’ll kick your dad’s ass and then he can take it out on you.” He was never a problem after that.
Laurel says
I am not going to place blame on Flagler County School system, as teachers barely know what to do or say to kids these days with all the current legislated nonsense. This is a societal problem, across the country starting around Columbine.
I will say again that something has happened since the time I went to school and the present. There was no bullying at my schools and the kids were real sweethearts. There was the class clown, and some sarcastic comments, we got in rare fights and then made up, and that was about it. As teens, if someone got mouthy, it was not appreciated and we simply avoided that person.
We were told to say “please” and “thank you,” “yes sir and yes mam,” and were taught manners. We did get away with stuff, but not all the time and did get in trouble with our parents, however, I was never spanked. I think we were taught empathy and sympathy, and had no worries about social media as it didn’t exist. We didn’t have to be cool 24/7, though it got harder as we got older. No need to plot murder, though.
Later, we heard stuff like “no pain, no gain,” “failure is not an option,” and calling men “ladies” or “pussies.” Useless junk talk. People started losing manners, as if manners were a weakness, and shooting birds at drivers in traffic. Our society became an offender protective society, and it is getting worse by the day (thank you DeSantis for your laws about women and child victims needing documentation of their abusers actions). You aren’t a man now, if you don’t own an ak15 or a pit-bull, because everyone knows you won’t take shit (because you need the look and are scared people won’t take you seriously). We just had a President who is the biggest bully of all and clearly has no idea what empathy is and doesn’t care.
What happened to raising a child to have confidence? A confident child will not bully. We know that bullies are cowards. A confident child can’t be bullied. Why is this bullying an acceptable trait? Are parents ignoring their children? Why are these kids on social media at all? Women all now need to be size one, and are still becoming the rapidly vanishing woman. Young girls are learning that they will never be good enough. Young boys are learning that they need to torment someone before someone torments them.
It does take a village to raise a child, but it starts with you parents.
Sum Ting Wong says
Teach your children the Art of Self Defense
Wing Chun
Brazilian Jujitsu
Kung Fu
Teach them to use these skills ONLY when your life is threatened
Sherry says
WOW! Laurel. . . an excellent analysis! Thank You!
Someone says
If you are truly interested in what happens to bullies, come to one of many informational workshops presented by the district behavior coordinator or meet with one of the many principals or deans within the school district. Just because somebody said they have been bullied based upon what they think is bullying may not be defined as bullying. There are three things that has to happen to be defined as bullying. First, Imbalance of power, two Malicious in intent, and three repetitive instances or event.
Celia Pugliese says
Sum Ting Won good advise…Exactly what I did after my son graduated in NJ from High School. When he started used to be called “wet bag” by an occasional kid, until that adjective became physical aggression and ended my son’s peaceful patient and generated his proper but controlled reaction….Well needless to say no one ever bullied him again further more he made many friends specially those needing a body guard against bullies it will only took my son to glance a bully and they will vanish . He was also his younger sister’s body guard when needed very seldom. Now with him approaching graduation sister was very concern obviously as his body guard will be gone. So I asked my girl if she wanted to learn Tae Kwan Do in a nearby academy..in case needed. Without excitation she agreed. Boy was she a fast learner she outpaced all the boys in her class. I think the fact of no longer having her brother around next years was enough to excel, but kept that thought to myself. School ended and started again without her body guard and she never told anyone she learned TaeKwon Do, she was very reserved. One day no long after school started came about a physical aggression so feared, pushed by a tall heavy girl that landed her in the ground hitting her head in the wall…so my girl enraged by the shame more than pain turned around like was waking away but suddenly stood up in and thru the aggressor a TaeKwon Do “round forward kick” to the chest …and did it intentionally light to avoid injury just to land her in the ground! She never had to deal with any bully again and like her brother made lots of friends. Martial Arts when used only when needed and in a controlled way is a solution to bullies. Is quiet, fast like lightning, no injuries very satisfying. help to build self confidence. Teacher had discretely seeing the whole exchange and as were not injuries, didn’t intervene. My little girl is 51 now and she goes thru life self confident and happy as a triathlon athlete, road and mountain cyclist in San Francisco CA. If you can afford it get your kid in martial arts if bullied.
Bill says
No surprise , the FPC staff do nothing , poor girl gets blamed for 2 other students picking on her that’s kinda messed up , and also student breaking school property and they don’t do nothing
LP says
That girl shouldn’t have gotten arrest FPC is such a joke !
troy says
it was a boy