NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – An 11-year-old boy in Nassau County was arrested after he was accused of threatening a shooting at a school, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO).
According to NCSO, on Aug. 5, deputies received a call stating a boy was sending a child “threatening messages from a group chat on the app Snapchat.” The suspect apparently called the victim a ‘’b***h’' and stated ‘’you can’t hide from me’' and also sent a picture of himself holding two handguns believed to be a revolver and a 9mm pistol, a release stated.
Deputies then went to the boy’s home for questioning.
“Screenshots of the messages and the photos of the messages were taken to Evidence at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office,” the release stated. “The responding Deputy forwarded the case to State’s Attorney’s Office to pursue possible charges for Harassing/Cyberstalking Another.”
Then, on Aug. 11, NCSO received a call in reference to a possible threat of a school shooting at Callahan Middle School. The complainant saw a message thread on Facebook in reference to a possible school shooting.
A post was found that stated, “If you go to Callahan Middle do not go to school Monday.”
According to the release, an investigation into the incident determined the suspect was ranting on a social media platform video chat about his girlfriend leaving him and began to flash two pistols at the camera, according to witnesses. A student told NCSO investigators the suspect stated, “I will f***ing go to the school and shoot a particular individual and everyone else” and “he wanted nobody to snitch or they’re next.”
Jade Mayo took a screenshot of the post.
“This is very overwhelming as a parent, because I should not have to be concerned if my child is going to make it home. Back to me, just within the first few weeks of school or ever in my life,” Mayo said.
She called the sheriff’s office.
When deputies questioned the 11-year-old, he admitted to calling the woman’s son “white trash” and using a few curse words.
The rest is redacted from the report.
Mayo says a zero bully tolerance needs to be taken more seriously.
“If the child does have the screenshots, it has to be taken account for because sometimes even if it’s social media, they’re just gonna write it off. Oh, this is just cyber. It’s not happening at the school. No cyber is in real life now,” Mayo said.
Further investigation revealed about 20 kids were on a video chat.
The suspect was arrested and charged with making written threats to kill, and he was transported to the Nassau County Jail.
The State Attorney’s Office told News4Jax technically there is no bond in the case.
The 11-year-old is in a secure detention unit until a hearing before the judge, who determines whether to keep him in a secure detention or release him to a guardian while the case progresses.
The SAO says its release is also based on a Risk Assessment Instrument which is confidential.
“Hopefully he gets the help that he needs,” Mayo said. “Threatening a school threatening to shoot somebody...Terrorizing that other student. It should never have to come to this.”
The Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone if they see something to say something.
…parents need to have “the talk” with your kids. The talk I’m referring to is making threats to others in school. The excuse that “I was just joking”, “I was only kidding”, “I wasn’t really serious,” “I was just trying to scare or intimidate someone,” doesn’t cut it.
You make a threat whether you are serious or not and we will slap handcuffs on you and lock you up. It isn’t a game that we play. So, this is your warning. We want our schools to be a place where students can learn and teachers can teach in a safe environment. Anyone who threatens that environment will be removed and dealt with accordingly.
Parents need to be all up in their child’s business. If they have access to the internet you need to control what they are doing and who they are talking to. If you don’t have their phone or computer pins and passwords and you aren’t checking up on them, then you are making a big mistake. Bullying and harassment can be done in person or on-line.
There are Apps parents can get to control their child’s access, as well as keep track of what they are doing. Don’t be afraid to use them.
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper