Sheriff’s ruthless move amid school shooting crisis

A no-nonsense sheriff fed-up with America’s school shooting crisis made a bold threat to parents - and then carried through with it three days later.

A no-nonsense sheriff fed-up with America’s school shooting crisis is taking matters into his own hands and shaming kids who make alleged threats by plastering their mugshots online.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood, from the Volusia County on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, took to social media on Monday after the arrest of an 11-year-old schoolboy.

He said deputies had recovered a collection of airsoft rifles, pistols and fake ammunition along with knives and swords the child had allegedly been showing off to students in a Facetime call with friends.

The boy had allegedly written a list of names and targets and made threats to “shoot up” Creekside or Silver Sands Middle School, according to an arrest affidavit.

They allegedly found a piece of paper with several names that appeared to have stab marks on them.

Police said the boy claimed it was “all a joke”, but charged him with making a written threat of a mass shooting, which is a felony.

An 11-year-old boy was named and shamed by a Florida sheriff after allegedly making a threat to commit a school shooting. Picture: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office

Police allegedly recovered a collection of airsoft rifles, pistols and fake ammunition along with knives and swords. Picture: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office

The arrest came days after the sheriff issued a powerful message to parents in his community.

“Since parents, you don’t want to raise your kids, I’m going to start raising them,” Chitwood said on Friday.

“Every time we make an arrest, your kid’s photo is going to be put out there. And if I can do it, I’m going to perp walk your kid so that everybody can see what your kid’s up to.

“I can and will release the names and photos of juveniles who are committing these felonies, threatening our students, disrupting our schools and consuming law enforcement resources.”

In Friday’s press conference, Chitwood said 54 school threat tips had been reported in the last 24 hours and 207 had been tallied this year alone.

“This is absolutely out of control and it ends now,” Chitwood said.

“I can’t say this clearer. You don’t stand up on an airplane and yell hijack, you don’t walk into a movie theatre and yell fire, and you don’t get online and post that you’re going to shoot up a school.

“It’s going to get your ass sent to jail.”

Following through with his threat, Chitwood took to social media again on Monday to share footage of the boy’s arrest along with a mugshot of the child.

Days before the boy’s arrest, the local sheriff vowed to “release the names and photos of juveniles who are (allegedly) committing these felonies. As promised, he posted the boy’s mugshot on Monday. Picture: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office

“Since parents, you don’t want to raise your kids, I’m going to start raising them”: Sheriff Mike Chitwood. Picture: Fox

In the footage, an officer can be heard telling the boy “right this way, young man” as he leads the child into a cell with his hands shackled behind his back.

“Do you have any questions?” the officer asks as he bolts the door.

“No sir,” the boy replies.

Juvenile court records are typically exempt from public release in Florida, unless the child is charged with a felony.

news.com.au has chosen not to picture the child as he is underage and not being charged as an adult.

Monday marked a dark day for Florida authorities.

In nearby Flagler County, a 13-year-old girl was arrested for making an alleged threat toward Buddy Taylor Middle School.

She took to social media to post “12:05 be ready to die if you go to BTMS” along with knife and gun emojis, according to the sheriff’s office.

Her mother made her delete the post and reported it to her school, who then contacted police.

The teen insisted the post was not serious, that she was “joking” with her friend and had no intention of shooting anyone, according to police.

She was charged with making a written threat to commit a mass shooting and taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Further north in Cocoa Beach, a 13-year-old boy was pulled from class and slapped with the same charge for allegedly threatening to carry out a school shooting online.

Footage released by the sheriff’s office showed the boy with handcuffs on being marched into an empty cell. Picture: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office

America has been on high alert since 14-year-old student Colt Gray allegedly opened fire on classmates and staff at Apalachee High School in Georgia on September 4, killing four people.

He faces life in prison.

The accused shooter’s father, Colin Gray, 52, was charged with offences including manslaughter and second degree murder after the shooting.

There have been at least 46 school shootings in America this year alone.