FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A third-grade student who is accused of calling 911 to report a fake incident of shots fired at a Fort Lauderdale elementary school is now apologizing for his actions.
At only 10 years old, Christopher is now facing a felony. The young boy made an appearance in court, Tuesday, facing a charge of misusing the 911 system by calling in a fake report of shots fired at North Andrews Gardens Elementary.
7News spoke to Christopher – with the permission of his guardians – and he is now apologizing for calling the police.
Christopher said he was playing a game with his friends when he was dared to call 911.
“I called 911 when there was no emergency at the school,” said Christopher said. “I was like doing some playing.”
He also added that the incident makes him feel embarrassed.
“I said there was a shooting at the school, and when I closed the phone, the cops were already there,” Christopher said. “I heard the sirens.”
The call caused fear among parents who stood outside of campus in the rain after they were notified that the school was on lockdown.
Police said Christopher used his aunt’s cellphone to make the call. However, investigators also said that this is not the first time the boy has made a fake call to police with that cellphone.
Detectives said just a day before, Christopher called to report shots fired near his home, where he lives with his aunt and uncle. He also called police to report an emergency at his home hours before the school incident.
A Broward County judge ordered the boy to be released to home detention and also scheduled a follow-up hearing for some time in May.
“The child has been placed on home detention for 21 days in lieu of the secure detention, the judge has reset the court date for about a month from now to find out what charges the state attorney will ultimately bring,” said the boy’s defense attorney Kory Hill. “There’s been talk about a diversionary program. The child was just 9 years old a few months ago, so we’re going to have to sit and wait for the state attorney to decide what charges are ultimately going to be brought.”
The third-grader said he would be scared if a school shooting really happened.
He said he knows his actions were wrong. “911 is only for emergencies,” Christopher said.
It is unclear if the boy will be able to attend school during the home detention.
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