Florida Sheriff Identifies Juveniles Behind School Shooting Threats \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Communities nationwide are grappling with a surge in school shooting threats, raising fears among parents and prompting law enforcement to take drastic measures. In Volusia County, Florida, Sheriff Mike Chitwood publicly named and posted the mugshot of an 11-year-old boy arrested for threatening to shoot up a middle school. This controversial approach has ignited a debate over juvenile privacy and the need for stronger actions to prevent violence in schools.
Florida Sheriff Sparks Debate by Publicly Naming Juveniles in School Shooting Threats: Quick Looks
- Public shaming tactic: Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood posts the identity of an 11-year-old arrested for a school shooting threat, drawing both praise and criticism.
- Surge in threats: Over 280 school shooting threats have been reported in Volusia County since the school year began, just shy of last year’s total.
- Legal questions: Juvenile court records are generally confidential in Florida, but exceptions exist for felony charges.
- Parental responsibility: Chitwood is exploring whether parents of students making threats can be held criminally or financially liable.
Deep Look
Across the United States, a wave of school shooting threats is causing alarm among parents, students, and law enforcement officials. These threats, whether real or not, have heightened concerns that any community could face a tragedy similar to Parkland, Sandy Hook, or Uvalde. The increasing frequency of these incidents has led law enforcement to consider new strategies to curb potential violence before it happens.
One notable response is coming from Volusia County, Florida, where Sheriff Mike Chitwood is taking a hardline approach. After dealing with numerous threats since the start of the school year, Chitwood decided to publicly identify students who make threats against schools. His decision to release the name and mugshot of an 11-year-old boy, arrested for allegedly threatening a middle school shooting, has ignited a heated debate on the balance between public safety and juvenile privacy.
Public Shaming Tactic
Sheriff Chitwood’s controversial move began earlier this week when he posted a video on social media showing the arrest of the 11-year-old boy. The video included images of airsoft guns, pistols, and knives that the boy had allegedly collected. It also featured footage of the child being led out of a squad car in handcuffs and placed into an empty jail cell. The sheriff argued that drastic action was necessary to get through to both students and their parents.
“Something has to be done,” Chitwood told the Associated Press. He expressed frustration with the 280 school threats reported in his county since the school year started, noting that the number was already approaching the 352 threats made in all of last year. Chitwood’s hope is that by publicly shaming the juveniles making these threats, he can deter others from following suit.
On Wednesday, he posted again, announcing the arrest of two more students involved in school shooting threats and promising to reveal their identities soon.
Praise and Criticism
Chitwood’s actions have sparked both praise and criticism, reflecting the ongoing national debate about how best to address the gun violence plaguing American schools.
Supporters of the sheriff’s tough stance argue that these threats must be taken seriously and that drastic measures are necessary. Max Schachter, whose son was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, voiced his support, saying, “We had a culture of complacency that led to the Parkland school shooting. We can’t be complacent anymore.” Schachter believes that those who make threats should face severe consequences, and he has called for holding parents accountable when their children make such threats.
However, critics argue that public shaming is not the answer. Daniel Mears, a criminology professor at Florida State University, said the sheriff’s decision goes against the spirit of the juvenile justice system, which is designed to give minors a second chance. “Juvenile records were supposed to be confidential for a reason,” Mears noted. He acknowledged that exceptions have always existed for serious crimes, but expressed concern that publicly identifying juveniles could have long-lasting effects on their future.
This concern is echoed by some parents in Volusia County. Kathleen Miksits, a mother of two middle schoolers, understands the need to address the seriousness of the threats, but worries about the long-term impact on the child involved. “Kids say things that they don’t mean,” Miksits said, noting the difficulty of striking a balance between treating these incidents with the gravity they deserve and recognizing that young children may not fully understand the consequences of their words.
Legal Ramifications and Parental Accountability
In Florida, juvenile court records are typically kept confidential unless the child is charged with a felony, as was the case with the 11-year-old boy. Chitwood maintains that his decision to identify the child is legally sound. “I’m not worried about the 2% that might get handcuffed,” Chitwood said, “I’m worried about the other 98% that are trying to go to school and live their normal lives.”
Chitwood is also investigating whether the parents of children who make school shooting threats can be held criminally or financially liable. His efforts reflect a growing trend in holding parents accountable for the actions of their children, especially in cases involving firearms. Earlier this year, Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, were sentenced to at least 10 years in prison after their son killed four students in a 2021 school shooting in Michigan. The Crumbleys were convicted of involuntary manslaughter after authorities determined they had failed to act on warning signs leading up to the shooting.
In Winder, Georgia, a similar case is unfolding, as the father of a 14-year-old boy accused of killing two students and two teachers in a high school shooting is now facing charges.
A Growing Crisis and Calls for Action
Beyond holding parents accountable, experts like Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, argue that more needs to be done to address the mental health crisis affecting children nationwide. “We don’t have enough social workers. We don’t have enough school psychiatrists,” Rodrigues said, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive psychological support for children in crisis.
Rodrigues and others are calling for stronger gun control measures to prevent school shootings from happening in the first place. Surveys show that American youth are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis, with rising rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges contributing to the surge in threats.
As communities across the country continue to grapple with the terrifying possibility of school shootings, the debate over how to prevent them—whether through public shaming, legal consequences, or mental health support—remains ongoing.
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