- September 17, 2024
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In light of a rise in threats made to local schools this week, Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood issued a joint statement on Friday, Sept. 13, asking for community support to keep schools safe.
"VCS, VSO, and all of our local law enforcement partners thoroughly investigate every possible threat," the statement reads. "Any students or individuals found responsible for making threats or spreading false information will face serious consequences. This includes disciplinary actions at the school level, such as suspension or expulsion, as well as potential legal action, including arrest.
"We need the continued support of our parents and community members to reinforce the seriousness of these offenses with your children," the statement continued. "Thank you for your partnership."
The statement comes after threats were made to several schools in Volusia County. On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Ormond Beach Police Department received information threatening the safety of specific students at Ormond Beach Middle School, leading to a lockdown at the school on Monday, Sept. 9.
The following day, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, Daytona Beach Police reported it received a tip about a Halifax Academy student who sent a photo of a gun and threatened to conduct a shooting at Hinson Middle School after police say he was rejected by a female student and made fun of in a text message group chat. Police identified the 11-year-old student, subsequently arresting and charging him with a felony of written threats to kill, according to a press release by DBPD.
Also on Sept. 10, a 10-year-old boy at Westside Elementary told other students in his class that he would shoot two of his classmates and a substitute teacher. DBPD states that, while on a break, students reported seeing him with a BB gun in his waistband. The students notified a teacher, who then saw the boy running toward the school perimeter fence and appeared to throw an item over the fence.
DBPD reports the school a plastic magazine to a BB gun was recovered and the gun was found in the boy's backpack. He was taken into police custody.
Additionally, two Heritage Middle School students were arrested by VSO deputies on Thursday, Sept. 12, and Friday, Sept. 13, for posting threats on TikTok and Instagram to commit a school shooting.
VSO reported on its Facebook page that both students were charged with making written threats to kill.
"Students should be aware that all threats are taken seriously by law enforcement, and threats from 'anonymous' accounts can be traced, even if the post and the account itself are deleted," VSO stated on Facebook. "The Sheriff’s Office will pursue criminal charges to the full extent of the law in every case possible. Threats meant as 'jokes' are no exception."
No credible threats to any Volusia County school have been identified, VSO states. But, each threat "causes disruption, alarm, and a major consumption of the law enforcement resources required to thoroughly and immediately investigate every case," the agency stated.
"Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Volusia County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin are asking parents and guardians to take a proactive role in reinforcing this message with students," VSO states. "This message is not meant to dissuade anyone from reporting a tip about a possible threat, even if the threat turns out to be a hoax."
