PARKLAND, FLA. (WSVN) - Two students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were arrested for bringing weapons on the school campus, while a third is accused of making a threat on social media, the Broward Sheriff’s Office says.
Arrest reports from BSO said two students brought knives on campus.
Jordan Salter, 18, and Gavin Stricker, 16, were arrested in separate incidents at the school on Tuesday and are expected in court on Wednesday morning.
Salter was arrested for bringing a weapon on campus after, deputies said, she showed a 2-inch knife during a confrontation with a male classmate in the cafeteria, Tuesday morning.
“Now there’s people coming in with weapons? I’m shocked,” said Stoneman Douglas junior Adam Berman.
About a half-hour later, at around 10 a.m., BSO deputies were called back to the school after, officials said, a 10th-grader made threatening posts on social media directed at a classmate.
According to the arrest report, the student was pulled from class after “posting pictures on Snapchat depicting a handgun in his waistband and numerous bullets,” along with threatening messages.
He was eventually taken in for a psychiatric evaluation.
“After what we’ve all been through, it doesn’t make any sense at all,” said Stoneman Douglas junior Jensen Clark.
And just after school let out Tuesday afternoon, Stricker was taken into custody after, deputies said, “a 9-inch knife was found in his backpack.”
Deputies said a student told a teacher that Stricker had been brandishing a knife on the bus Monday.
“When you bring a knife, especially after all this — to me, it’s disgusting,” said student Angelina Lazo.
Hours later, Stoneman Douglas Principal Ty Thompson sent a recorded message that stated, “Earlier today, we had three incidents on campus that required law enforcement intervention. Due to student privacy laws, I cannot disclose the details of these incidents. However, in all three cases, the individuals involved will receive the appropriate consequences through the juvenile justice system and the district’s code of student conduct.”
Those Stoneman Douglas students aren’t the only ones in hot water. BSO said a deputy assigned to patrol the school has been suspended with pay after a sergeant spotted him sleeping inside his patrol car.
Deputy Moises Carotti was on duty Monday, just after 5 p.m., when a student told a BSO sergeant that Carotti appeared to be asleep in his car while he was supposed to be monitoring the perimeter of the 1200 building, the location of the Feb. 14 massacre that claimed 17 lives.
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said, “Of all the schools in America, you would think this would be the safest one right now. This is so outrageous, it’s almost impossible to believe.”
Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie tweeted, “Security at Marjory Stoneman Douglas continues to be an urgent priority for us. Given the developments over the past 24 hours, we will further enhance school safety measures.”
“We as teachers are concerned,” said Stoneman Douglas history teacher Greg Pittman. “It is not as secure as we need it to be.”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter of support for Stoneman Douglas, saying, “Today, I am requesting that immediate action be taken to require an armed law enforcement officer to secure every point of entry at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School while students are on campus. To help with this goal, the state is willing to provide assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol until a more permanent safety plan can be put into place.”
https://twitter.com/browardsheriff/status/976295144168173570
Tuesday’s developments came just one day after the arrest of Zachary Cruz, the brother of admitted Stoneman Douglas shooter Nikolas Cruz. Zachary was arrested for trespassing on the school’s property and is being held on $500,000 bond.
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