In Florida, authorities have charged a young boy with over 20 bomb and shooting threats aimed at schools and other locations.
During a press conference, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly emphasized the significance of identifying the caller before the school year begins. He said the preteen’s behavior was “escalating” and “becoming more dangerous” as a result of the swatting calls. On May 14, NBC Miami reported an initial threat to Flagler County emergency services, which targeted Buddy Taylor Middle School. Between May 14 and May 22, additional dangers emerged. Investigators also discovered that the calls originated in Henrico County, Virginia.
Local authorities searched the boy’s house earlier this month, discovering that he made calls to Florida and made another threat to the Maryland State House after confessing to his conduct. Authorities said he made further swatting calls in Nebraska, Kansas, Tennessee, and Alaska. According to FOX35, a classmate and friend who attends the school dared him to report the bomb threats at Buddy Taylor Middle School, but he chose not to do so to avoid being labeled as a punk.
While Florida officials organize his extradition, a juvenile institution in Virginia is currently holding the child who faces 29 felony counts and 14 misdemeanors for the calls. Investigators also discovered that the youngster attempted to remove several items from his phone. Sheriff Staly had a message for the boy’s friend, who had dared him to make the phone call: “Go to your parents, tell them what you did, and turn yourself in because we will find you next.”
In May, a 13-year-old boy was taken into custody in Florida for making a threat similar to the one reported a few days earlier at Buddy Taylor Middle School.
