The 9-year-old boy is the second elementary schooler in less than two weeks arrested for a similar incident in Putnam County.
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — Within a span of under two weeks, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has announced the second arrest of an elementary student suspected of threatening a peer on school grounds with a knife.
A child, aged 9, from Middleton-Burney Elementary was taken into custody on Thursday, as reported by the sheriff’s office, for allegedly brandishing a pocket knife during recess and making threats to stab another pupil during an altercation. Due to the minor’s age, First Coast News will withhold his identity and omit his booking photograph.
The event is believed to have occurred on Wednesday afternoon, with the knife being kept in the child’s backpack. According to PCSO, a female student claimed he showed her the knife and pointed it toward her abdomen.
PCSO said multiple children reported having seen the knife throughout the day — though none told a teacher until after the incident at recess.
“We urge you to encourage students to discuss any concerns with teachers or utilize the Fortify App when they notice anything unusual,” PCSO stated in a social media update. “Had the knife been discovered and confiscated by school staff before threats were made, it might have been addressed through school discipline, avoiding the escalation to a felony charge.”
The student faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and has been released into parental care until his court appearance.
Just prior, on October 2nd, a 10-year-old student from Browning Pearce Elementary faced similar charges after allegedly threatening a peer and displaying a pocket knife, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Parents, we cannot stress enough the importance of checking backpacks,” wrote PCSO Friday.
