PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - An 11-year-old student has been arrested after he was accused of threatening to shoot up his middle school.
According to Pembroke Pines Police, the Walter C. Young Middle School student spontaneously said, “I’m going to shoot up the school” while in class Monday.
When another student asked if he was serious, the boy responded, “maybe, maybe not.”
The other student then told administrators, and the 11-year-old was arrested.
Police said the boy admitted to making statements, knowing it frightened his classmates. The boy also said he made a mistake and was frustrated over his school lessons.
The boy has been charged with making a false report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner.
This comes a day after a 13-year-old student was arrested for a similar threat made at Pines Middle School. This student also said it was a joke.
However, very few found the joke funny.
“I think that’s very alarming for a 13-year-old to be threatening,” said Melanie Ramos, the sister of a Pines student. “I think that’s something that the school, as well as the guidance counselors should speak more to the students because that’s something psychological. Maybe he’s mentally [unstable]. Maybe that’s the case, maybe not. Maybe he needs help.”
Parents spoke to 7News outside of the school to weigh in on the alleged threatening remarks.
“This is like an epidemic thing that has been going on since all of these other shootings that have happened in the past,” said parent Sandra Perez. “It’s sad because you have other kids that really want to come to school to learn.”
“The inability to cope with certain things. It is a home foundation issue,” parent Jose Pagan said, “but, at the core, you also have to consider this too; students are here almost like a full-time job.”
Pagan, who works with students and in mental health, said there needs to be a two-pronged approach to the issue: parents need to parent and schools need to reinforce.
“I think that the schools in general can do a little bit better in terms of leading kids at some of their social needs [and] psychological needs,” he said.
Police are also asking parents to speak to their children, letting them know that making such threats – even if they aren’t legitimate – is a crime and will be taken seriously.
“Our community has no tolerance for these types of threats being made,” said Pembroke Pines Police Capt. Al Xiques. “This is the fourth incident of this nature that we’ve had over the past month. It’s unfortunate that a juvenile has to be arrested for making or writing a stupid remark.”
Both students in these instances were charged with felonies.
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