Police: Teen Pointed Loaded Gun At Students In Carol City Middle
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MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) -- Police have released more details on what led to a 13-year-old girl reportedly pulling a gun on other students at a South Florida high school.
According to the arrest report, the student was having a verbal argument with other students sitting in a classroom at Carol City Middle School. At some point, it escalated. That's when police say the girl reached into her book bag and pulled out a 9mm gun.
She ran out of the office towards the students she was arguing with, pointed the gun at them and chased them out of the classroom, the report states.
The students were able to get away from the girl and run to safety. A security monitor was able to stop the girl and call authorities, police said.
Authorities later found the gun was loaded.
The teen is now facing very adult charges including attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm.
On Thursday morning, the teen's mother and aunt appeared in court where a judge ordered the girl to be placed on home detention and not have any contact with the two students who may have been her targets.
"Thank God the gun jammed, as the counselor said, it was pure intervention," said the family's pastor Richard Dunn.
The 13-year-old, who is living with her aunt, told police that she got the gun from inside her cousin's drawer. It's something that landed her cousin, 34-year-old Kerry Watkins, in jail with a misdemeanor charge for failure to secure a weapon from a minor. He has since bonded out.
Parents were concerned when they heard what had happened.
"It's not safe in Dade County period. With the school systems, they say they have cameras, they say that's how they found out she had the gun," said a parent who identified herself as Lisa.
"It's discouraging. There's too much happening in this community," said Jermain Nembhard.
Larry Handfield, who is representing the girl, said she needs help, not jail.
"My main concern is, one, keeping her in the juvenile system and two, getting her the necessary help she needs. She has had some difficult life based on her circumstances," said Handfield.
As for bringing a loaded gun to school and pointing it at someone, "I understand how serious that is, that's something that everyone should be concerned with, however, she is not a person that is violent," said Handfield.
He said she has been dealt with some emotional and mental issues. He added that she may have been bullied in school.
"On behalf of the family and the Faith Community Baptist Church do express our sincerest and deepest apologies to those parents, relatives to the school officials. We are law-abiding God-fearing people, we don't condone these things," said Dunn.
Investigators said they also found a "22 caliber AR style rifle in her cousin's closet. Detectives removed the rifle from the closet and discovered that it had a loaded magazine inserted containing 31 rounds of live ammunition and no locking device."
Miami-Dade Public Schools reminded other parents that storing firearms properly can save lives and is also a legal requirement.
