FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said it has arrested an 11-year-old boy from Virginia who is accused of making threats against Flagler County schools.
On May 14, the FCSO Communications Center said it received a bomb threat toward Buddy Taylor Middle School. Following that initial threat, 20 more bomb or shooting threats were made toward Buddy Taylor and four other Flagler County schools — First Baptist Christian Academy, Flagler Palm Coast High School, Old Kings Elementary School, and Suncoast Community School — between May 14 and May 22.
Recommended Videos
In each, investigators said the caller made claims that a bomb or bombs had been placed, threatened to commit a mass shooting, or stated that they had just shot a teacher, student, or multiple people.
Investigators said they eventually learned the caller was an 11-year-old from Henrico, Virginia.
Detectives interviewed the child, as well as members of his family and said he admitted to placing the swatting-type calls made towards Flagler County schools, as well as a threat made to the Maryland State House. The 11-year-old said he used methods he had learned online in an attempt to circumvent law enforcement and hide his identity, according to investigators. He also told investigators that he devised the script he used for his calls and acted alone.
The boy was arrested and charged with 14 felony counts of False Report Concerning the Planting of a Bomb, 14 felony counts of Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device, one felony count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, and 14 misdemeanor counts of Disrupting a School Function. He is being held in a juvenile detention facility in Virginia while Florida DJJ and the State Attorney, Florida’s 7th Circuit work with Virginia authorities under the Interstate Juvenile Compact to transfer him to Florida authorities.
“With school coming up in less than a month, I know that the status of this investigation was on the forefront of our community’s mind, which is why our detectives never stopped working to find the person responsible for terrorizing our students, parents, teachers, and our community,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “This kid’s behavior was escalating and becoming more dangerous. I’m glad we got him before he escalated out of control and hurt someone.”
The 11-year-old is the second juvenile arrested in connection with the threats towards Flagler County schools last May. On May 17, FCSO, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office worked together to arrest a 13-year-old who was accused of making a bomb threat towards Buddy Taylor, placed by phone call to the school’s front desk, in what was determined to be a copycat incident.