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An 11-year-old boy has been arrested in Ocala, Florida, after making a hoax 9-1-1 call to report a school shooting on the morning of December 7.
Authorities, who opted not to disclose the child’s name due to his age, claim that the boy’s motive for making the call was to “go home early.”
The call, which was made from within Horizon Academy in Ocala, triggered a school-wide lockdown and prompted the deployment of law enforcement personnel and specialty units.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office detailed the events in a press release, stating that in the call, received around 9:40 a.m., the boy claimed that an active shooter was on campus.
According to the press release, deputies, a SWAT team, aviation and K-9s were deployed to the school, along with members of the Ocala Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol and federal agencies.
Authorities then thoroughly searched the campus, determining there was no threat present.
Subsequent investigations led detectives to the 11-year-old student, who initially denied making the call, asserting he left his phone and backpack in the school clinic.
However, it was revealed that the boy had taken his friend’s unattended phone and used it to make the false report.
The 9-1-1 audio, released by the sheriff’s office, captured the boy saying: “Help, there is a school shooter walking through the hallway.” He then tells the dispatcher that the shooter is in “building two,” and when the dispatcher asked for further details, he says, “He’s coming. He’s coming.” The line then disconnects.
“This student put fear into his fellow students, staff and parents. And for what? A prank? Because you wanted to go home?” Sheriff Billy Woods stated.
In the statement, the sheriff affirmed his commitment to protecting students and the community, adding that false reports require restitution for the extensive law enforcement response.
The charges against the 11-year-old include false report of a mass shooting, utilizing a two-way communication device to commit a felony, disruption of a school function and misuse of 9-1-1.
The sheriff’s office also drew attention to the potential cost of the law enforcement response.
“The law requires that any person who makes these types of false reports pay restitution for the cost of the law enforcement response which, in this case, will equal hundreds upon hundreds of man-hours,” Woods stated.
The incident has also raised concerns about the broader issue of “swatting.”
Director of the National Association of School Resource Officers Mac Hardy commented on the psychological impact of such incidents.
“The trauma that those other students and staff inside the school experienced … they’re thinking there’s a possibility that there could be an active shooter on this campus,” Hardy said, noting that “swatting” incidents, though fake, can cause real distress, injury and anxiety among those involved.
Hardy said that there have been 37 “swatting” calls in 17 different states this year, making it a pressing concern for communities nationwide.
In addition, Hardy noted that “swatting” may divert officers from their regular duties, leaving a city more vulnerable to real crimes and straining the department’s resources.
“It’s dangerous for the community, those officers are working in our neighborhoods and working in our business districts when they get this call,” Hardy explained. “They’re also leaving a city vulnerable because they are pulling resources from other areas of the city to make sure that you’re safe, to make sure that your students are safe.”
In this rare case, the young suspect was apprehended, but “swatting” incidents often go unresolved, as they may involve computerized calls that are challenging to trace.
Due to the increasing frequency of such incidents across the country, some states, such as Ohio, have even passed legislation making the hoax calls a felony.
Hardy also recommended increased education for students on the dangers of “swatting” and additional training for school resource officers to better handle such situations.
The 11-year-old boy has been transported to the Marion County Jail, and the legal proceedings will determine the consequences he will face.
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