Florida Sheriff Responds to Shock Arrest of 10-Year-Old Boy Over School Shooting Threat: "Our Policy Is Zero Tolerance"
The Florida Sheriff defends his department's move of arresting the 10-year-old boy who threatened a school shooting through a text.
Sheriff Carmen Marceno explained to Fox News on Tuesday that even a fake threat will have a real consequence because child safety remains the top priority.
"Our policy is zero-tolerance... The second we get a threat, no matter what that threat is, it's considered real until proven otherwise. So we jumped on it immediately," Marceno underscored.
He furthered that his message to the public remains consistent, claiming that the aftermath is still the same whether a 10-year-old, 12-year-old, or 18-year-old presses the trigger of a gun.
"I want people to see what's going on, and I want them to know that this county, this state, this great state of Florida means business," the Florida sheriff highlighted.
Marceno went on to say in the interview that parents are afraid to discipline their children because of what society says nowadays.
"Society says, well, if your parent disciplines you and there's any kind of abuse, come forward, so we can report your parent... So parents are afraid... They're afraid to discipline their kids," Marceno noted.
The Florida sheriff then shared that when he was growing up, the nun would hit them with a wooden ruler and they understood what is right and wrong.
The sheriff, in an interview with the Daily Mail, also urged the parents to have a stricter discipline when it comes to their children. Marceno pointed out that the parents should go back to the "old school" of disciplining and holding people accountable. He then shared that growing up he already knew his bets even though his parents just looked at him.
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Parents Laud the Department for Releasing the Mugshot of the 10-year-old - Florida Sheriff
Marceno opened up about their arrest of the 10-year-old a day after their department released the mugshot of the boy who threatened to conduct a mass shooting at his school.
On Tuesday, Marceno shared that parents were thanking him for what their department did.
"The vast majority of parents come forward and tell me: 'Thank you for doing that. My child is now afraid of the consequences," The Florida sheriff said. He then added that parents also told him that their move changed the way they behave and how the children think.
The sheriff further noted that he will continue to release juvenile mugshots, contending that the move will ensure safety and teach the public that adult felony results in punishment. Marceno noted that the last thing they want to do is put a 10-year-old in a handcuff. However, he stressed that they need to do their job.
Reports noted that Lee County in Florida released at least nine juvenile mugshots in recent years.
Florida Boy Threatens School Shooting
A 10-year-old Florida boy was arrested on Saturday after he wrote a message threatening to conduct a mass shooting.
The said child was reportedly a student from Patriot Elementary School in Cape Coral.
On Monday, the Florida police's arrest report revealed that the boy allegedly claimed in his text that he scammed his friend with a Google image of money and said that he bought something, attaching a photo of assault rifles.
The boy then noted in the message to "get ready for water day," which is their school event. The Florida sheriff then stressed that the boy used "get ready" to commit mass shootings.
The Florida boy was charged with making a written threat to conduct a mass shooting. The Youth Services Criminal Investigations took over the case due to the age of the child.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written By: Joshua Summers
WATCH: Fifth Grader Accused Of Threatening Shooting At Florida School - From NBC News
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