Florida Boy Arrested for Faking a School Shooting

In a shocking turn of events, police in Florida recently arrested an 11-year-old boy for reporting a fake school shooting with the sole intention of leaving school early.

The incident has sparked concerns about the impact of such misguided actions and the importance of understanding the severity of false alarms in today’s society.

School safety is a serious matter, with authorities and educators constantly striving to ensure the security and well-being of students. But what happened?

Florida Boy Arrested for Faking School Shooting

An 11-year-old boy was arrested after allegedly making a hoax 911 call reporting a school shooter at Horizon Academy in Ocala, Florida, prompting law enforcement response and a building evacuation.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at approximately 9:39 a.m., as reported by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities conducted a search and confirmed via a Facebook post on Thursday that there were no armed assailants, weapons, or injured students or staff found at Horizon Academy following the hoax 911 call.

Student’s Prank Causes Fear

An investigation revealed that a student allegedly made the hoax 911 call because “he wanted to go home early”. This was according to the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Billy Woods condemned the student’s actions, stating that the hoax call caused fear among students, staff, and parents. He emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated. Moreover, he stressed that causing fear in schools for personal reasons like wanting to leave early is unacceptable.

School Hoax Call Triggers Emergency Response

The released audio of the 911 call from the sheriff’s office features the boy stating urgently, “Help me. There’s a shooter walking through the hallway.”

The 911 call made by the boy included details about the school’s name and his location in “building two” while expressing urgency about a shooter approaching. The call abruptly disconnected after he mentioned the threat.

Law enforcement responded by sending all available deputies to Horizon Academy in Ocala, Florida. Upon arrival, the school resource officer had not received any prior reports of a shooter. However, as a precaution, the school was placed on lockdown.

Massive Response to False School Emergency

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including MCSO deputies, detectives, SWAT, Aviation, and K-9 units, along with officers from the Ocala Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, and other state and federal agencies, responded to the incident at Horizon Academy.

A thorough search of the school confirmed no armed assailants, weapons, or injured individuals. Throughout the search, school activities were suspended, and students and staff were visibly distressed, as reported by the sheriff’s office.

What Happened After the Florida Boy Was Arrested?

Authorities reported that the boy expressed a desire to leave school early to a friend. He then left his cell phone unattended. Seizing the opportunity, the 11-year-old used the phone to make a false 911 call about a mass shooting.

He has since been arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on charges including making a false report of a mass shooting, using a two-way communication device for a felony, disrupting a school function, and misusing the 911 emergency system.

Moreover, Sheriff Billy Woods emphasized that under the law, those who make false reports must pay restitution for the cost of law enforcement responses. He highlighted that in this case, the extensive response would amount to hundreds of man-hours.

Sheriff Woods suggested that the boy would need to work extensively, such as mowing many lawns, to cover the incurred expenses.

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