Teen accused of juvenile crimes after threats to shoot up school

On Behalf of | Aug 26, 2019 | Juvenile Crimes

The texted threats sent on a group chat recently were the fourth such incidents in Florida within one month. A 16-year-old girl is being held in a facility for those suspected of juvenile crimes. According to the arrest record, a high school student threatened to shoot up a Catholic School where her younger sister goes. Reportedly, she used her sister’s phone and did not realize that she sent the text out on a group chat.

The teen was arrested after some students reported the message to staff members at the school. Three similar threats were made during this month, one of which involved a 16-year-old student, while two were made by adults. Both the teenagers later said they had no real intentions to carry out their threats. In the most recent case, the girl’s parents said she had no access to a firearm to use in a shooting.

Only days before this threat against the Catholic school, a high school student who used a video game chat room as a platform was arrested in Volusia County. The sheriff’s office reports that the boy threatened to use his father’s M15 to kill at least seven people. The accused teen later said he was only joking and had no intention to shoot anyone.

Although any threats of mass shootings will be taken seriously, the Florida juvenile justice system is aimed at rehabilitation instead of punishment in most instances. However, parents who receive a call to inform them of their child’s arrest might be unsure of what to do. The most sensible step is to retain the services of a criminal defense attorney with experience in dealing with juvenile crimes and protecting the legal rights of teenagers who are accused of committing crimes.

Archives