Central FL Police Arresting Teens Over School Threats
After a highly-publicized attack like the Parkland shooting, reports of school violence threats can surge to fifty or more per day all across the country, according to the Educator’s School Safety Network. High-profile attacks like these often encourage impressionable students to threaten to take actions similar to those carried out by the recently-spotlighted gunman.
Just two weeks after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas massacre, authorities arrested over a dozen preteens and teenagers in central Florida for making copycat threats. Despite their young ages — most students who have threatened their schools are under eighteen — many now face felony charges. While some charges have been dropped, students stand to face the repercussions of such severe charges further down the road. Students of all ages should understand the implications of these threats, as law enforcement officers throughout Florida are on high alert and are not taking any chances.
Central Florida Teenagers Threaten Public Schools
Police officers throughout Florida say they are taking a “strict stance” against school threats and have vowed to investigate and prosecute all threats. Many students arrested in the wake of the Parkland shooting face felony charges today.
Casselberry Police Chief Larry Krantz said in a statement that these actions have serious consequences and will result in arrest. He made the statement shortly after arresting a 12-year-old girl who threatened three schools in Seminole County, including her own middle school. After police discovered the person behind the online threats she made, they charged her with threatening to discharge a destructive device, which is a felony offense.
Other incidents include a 13-year-old boy arrested for threatening to shoot up Jackson Heights Middle School in Oviedo, Florida and a 14-year-old girl in Brevard County who posted an image threatening “Parkland round 2.” A 16-year old boy in Volusia County was arrested in Deltona High School after a gate attendant overheard him claiming he had a gun in his backpack. Though the student later said he was joking, he faces a felony charge.
Just two weeks after Parkland, Seminole County schools have faced 25 threats, though none of them were credible. The most common ways students are distributing these threats is through social media sites such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook.
Was Your Child Arrested for Threatening a School?
Middle and high school students are often too young to understand the full repercussions of their actions. A child who is arrested is unlikely to understand how this will affect their immediate and distant future. Students with criminal charges on their records can often forget about pursuing higher education at their university of choice, receiving scholarships, encountering favorable job opportunities, and more.
Juveniles who commit a first offense may have an easier time getting their names cleared than those who have had prior run-ins with law enforcement. It’s vital to discuss your child’s case immediately with a compassionate criminal defense lawyer who handles juvenile charges.
Talk with the team of dedicated criminal attorneys in Orlando at the Umansky Law Firm. We have over 100 years of combined experience providing second chances to children like yours. Call 407-228-3838 for a free consultation or email us today. We are available online to chat 24/7.