- April 26, 2024
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On Nov. 5, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was notified by school authorities of a threat at Buddy Taylor Middle School. School resources deputies were notified of a student threatening to “shoot up the school” during lunch to several other students.
School administration advised that three students reported they were sitting at a lunch table with the juvenile suspect and one student asked him about a rumor they heard. The juvenile replied, “if one more person asks me about that … I am going to shoot up the school." He indicated that the other two students would be the first targets.
School administration stated that the juvenile initially denied making the comment, but then he later admitted to it in the hopes of the students leaving him alone. The juvenile claimed it was an empty threat and he didn’t mean it.
“We cannot stress it enough that making a threat will be taken seriously, as we have a zero-tolerance policy in Flagler County,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This is getting out of hand and has to stop! Students need to understand that threatening violence is not the answer, and these types of threats are only going to get you into trouble with the law, and you will be held accountable. Choose your words carefully. And parents, talk to your children now! This is getting out of control and only you, as the parent, can teach your child proper behavior and stop this nonsense.”
According to a Washington Post article, schools across the country are reporting increased threats, assaults, and violence: “Much of the attention around the return to school after months of remote learning has focused on academic losses, but educators also feared emotional damage and behavioral unrest as students, who have seen their lives upended by the pandemic, adjust to being in school buildings again. Those fears now appear to be materializing, in big ways and small.”
The juvenile was arrested for two counts of Written Threats to Kill and was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He was released to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
