by Deltona, FL – An 11-year-old student at Highbanks Learning Center in Deltona, Florida, was arrested following the discovery of a “kill list” he allegedly wrote targeting classmates. The incident has raised serious concerns about juvenile threats in schools and the appropriate responses by law enforcement and communities.
The boy, whose identity is withheld due to his age, faces a felony charge for making a written threat to kill. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the student had no access to weapons, but the arrest and subsequent public exposure have sparked a wide-ranging debate about ethics and legal consequences for minors.
Details of the Incident and Law Enforcement Response
The arrest took place on a Monday after the list was found at the school. The sheriff’s office shared images and a video of the boy’s “perp walk,” including footage of him exiting a police cruiser in handcuffs and being placed in a jail cell.
“While school threats are down recently, Sheriff Mike Chitwood is continuing to stress to students and parents that these types of threats will result in felony charges,” officials said in a social media post.
- The arrested student attends Highbanks Learning Center in Deltona.
- The charge is for making a written threat to kill, a felony under Florida law.
- Authorities confirmed he did not have access to weapons at the time of arrest.
- The sheriff’s department has faced similar criticisms before regarding juvenile arrests and social media posts.
Community and Social Media Reaction
The sheriff’s office video post garnered over 1,000 comments, illustrating a divided public opinion.
- Some praised law enforcement for taking serious action to deter threats in schools.
- Others criticized the ethics of publicly showing the minor’s face and branding him online, highlighting the child’s age and potential for rehabilitation.
- There has been concern over the impact of social media exposure on minors facing charges.
“How is it okay to show a minor like this on social media? I hate this perp walking of children… The child is only 11 years old,” one commenter lamented.
“He does need guidance but I don’t think shaming him on social media is the answer,” another user added.
Broader Context and Legal Implications
This arrest follows a pattern of increased legal action against school threats in Volusia County. Earlier in May, the same sheriff’s office faced backlash for posting a similar “perp walk” video of a 15-year-old charged with making a false bomb threat.
According to the sheriff’s Facebook statement, the 15-year-old had sent a bomb threat tip as a joke, using a fake name from a school laptop, further highlighting challenges in managing juvenile misconduct in schools.
Read Also: Pennsylvania Teacher Gets Surprise Engagement Proposal During School Assembly with Students Cheering
For more information on this case and related incidents, visit The Independent.
What This Means for School Safety and Juvenile Justice
The incident raises key questions for parents, educators, and policymakers around school safety, mental health support, and the use of felony charges for young children.
- Increasingly strict legal measures aim to deter threats but also spotlight the need for preventative mental health interventions.
- Community responses reveal tensions between ensuring safety and protecting minors’ privacy and rehabilitation opportunities.
- Ethical considerations remain about how juvenile suspects are portrayed in media and social media outlets.
Your Voice Matters
What do you think about the use of felony charges against children in school-related threats? How should communities balance safety with compassion and rehabilitation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
