Watch CBS News

Teen Arrested For Reportedly Threatening To "Shoot Up" Miramar School

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIRAMAR (CBSMiami) - A 16-year-old was arrested for allegedly making a threat against a Miramar high school.

A new police report reveals that the youngster said he had been bullied in theater class and called "stupid" and "retarded" and that prompted him to say he was going to bring a Glock 9 to Everglades High School and shoot it up.

ON Thursday afternoon, a judge ordered that the youngster be held in secure detention for 21 days and he will have to wear an electronic monitor and he will not be allowed to return to his school. A Broward Judge found probable cause in his case and also ordered that the student will have to be evaluated by a psychologist. He also ordered that a "threat assessment" be conducted as well.

The youngster will have to return to court for another hearing on October 12th.

The case was one  incident that prompted the Broward Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie to speak out.

"We encourage parents and their guardians to speak to their children about how serious these actions can be," he said. "Under the Marjory Stoneman Douglas safety act threatening violence like this against schools is a crime. It is a 2nd degree felony. Let me repeat that. It is a 2nd degree felony whether it involves a verbal threat or through social media."

Runcie told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "The law does not differentiate between a prank or a joke when it comes to a school threat."

He urged anyone who knew about such threats to call the Broward Public schools tip line at (754) 321-0911 or send an email to School911@browardschools.com.

He also said he was not sure if there had been a recent spike in school threats or whether there was just more awareness about reporting them in part because of the "See something, say something campaign."

Gordon H. Weekes, Jr., the Chief Assistant Public Defender in Broward, said the 16-year-old youngster was the victim of a "significant level of bullying. The school system needs to look at ongoing bullying and its pervasiveness that encourages kids to take things into their own hands."

He is not sure if the alleged threat would have ever been carried out.

He said, "It seems like it was a cry for adult intervention to stop the bullying that had occurred."

The teen was in class Wednesday at Everglades High when he threatened to shoot up the school. Another student heard the threat and posted a message on social media, warning kids not to go to school.

"It was going around everywhere," said student Renee Perez.

Students sent CBS4's Amber Diaz me one of the Snapchat messages from Wednesday. It read, "Tomorrow X threatened to shoot up the school on God-stay woke or do not show up."

Others took to Twitter to warn their classmates about the threat. One student wrote, "I'm tired of being scared to go to school."

Late Wednesday, Miramar police sent out a tweet saying they were aware of the threat and were talking to the student.

Police reportedly found an unloaded gun in the teen's backpack. The teen was arrested and charged with making a false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner.

Everglades high principal Haleh Darbar sent out a robocall Wednesday night informing parents of what was happening.

Gators,
An Everglades student has been arrested by Miramar police. All threats are taken seriously and investigated fully regardless of intent. We ask that you speak with your children regarding the consequences of making a false report. At this time, all classes and activities are on a normal schedule.
Thank you,
Haleh Darbar, Principal

The students say having access to social media gave them a jump on what was going on.

"It's helpful because I don't know how many students check their emails like as much as they check their phones so it is pretty helpful," said Perez.

Despite the arrest, some parents said they were still on edge as they dropped their kids off at school.

"It's scary," said parent Marie Titus. "Even this morning you know I'm not very happy to take my son to school but I'm praying nothing happens to him."

Since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, in which 17 people were killed, authorities have taken these types of threats to schools more seriously than ever before.

This is the third incident where students have posed a threat to their schools.

Last Tuesday, police say a nine-year-old brought a loaded gun into Paul Turner Elementary in Broward County and threatened three students who bullied him.

At Southwest Senior High in Miami-Dade, police arrested a student for having an unloaded weapon in his backpack.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.