Florida teen brings gun to school, arrested after photo circulates on social media
Teen accused of posting picture with gun while at school
A 14-year-old Indian Trails Middle School student was arrested after a photo circulated on social media showing him holding a gun in a Matanzas High School bathroom during a basketball game, authorities said.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A 14-year-old student has been arrested after bringing a firearm to a high school basketball game.
Middle school student brings gun to high school basketball game
What we know:
On January 31, a school resource deputy at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast was alerted of a photo circulating social media showing a student holding a handgun in a school bathroom.
Several students were able to identify the suspect as a student at Indian Trails Middle School.
The Matanzas High School resource deputy reviewed surveillance footage from the MHS basketball game with the Indian Trails Middle School resource deputy.
In the footage, deputies observed the 14-year-old suspect wearing the same clothing from the photo and entering the bathroom several times during the game. At one point, the suspect entered the bathroom with three other ITMS students, who then ran out of the bathroom minutes later.
The suspect was informed of the ongoing investigation and that deputies were applying for a search warrant for his cell phone. He refused to hand over his phone, instead attempting to leave the room. After continuing to resist the deputies' directions, the suspect was placed in handcuffs.
He was arrested for Resisting an Officer with Violence and was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility for processing, where the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice directed that he be released to a parent.
Further investigation revealed that one of the students who had entered the bathroom with the suspect saw him lift his shirt to reveal the gun, prompting the students to flee.
On Feb. 14, a search warrant for the suspect’s phone was executed by the FCSO Digital Forensics Unit, uncovering multiple photos of him with the firearm. The images were confirmed to have been taken at Matanzas High School during the basketball game.
Detectives determined that the suspect had told other students he no longer had the gun and had disposed of it.
On Feb. 19, he was arrested again, this time for the exhibition of a weapon on school property. After being processed, he was transferred to the Volusia County Juvenile Detention Center.
The backstory:
The investigation began after students saw and reported the teen’s social media post, which showed him holding a firearm. Due to the seriousness of the situation, deputies obtained a search warrant to access the teen’s phone, allowing them to confirm the image’s existence. School surveillance footage further supported reports that the teen had a weapon. The sheriff’s office has warned that anyone responsible for giving the teen a gun could also face criminal charges.
Big picture view:
This case highlights ongoing concerns about school safety and gun access among minors. Law enforcement is not only focused on holding the teen accountable but also on determining how he acquired the weapon.
The case serves as a reminder of the role social media plays in law enforcement investigations, as the arrest was largely prompted by student reports and digital evidence. Authorities are urging anyone with information on the missing firearm to come forward.
'You will be arrested'
What they're saying:
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said parents need to step up.
"If you don't be the sheriff in your home, my deputies and I will be the sheriff of your kid and by the time we knock on that door, it's too late. Your kid is likely going to be arrested," said Staly. "Whether he's trying to be the big man on the block at 14 years old or just showing it off, whatever his motivation was there's a serious penalty that's coming his way."
Investigators said the teen took a photo of himself holding the gun inside of a bathroom at Matanzas High School during a basketball game. Parents of other students, like, David Strawder, say it worries them that a gun was in a school around students.
"There’s no excuse. A child should not have access to a firearm," said Strawder. "To know that there are some kids that are bringing weaponry, firearms, like dangerous stuff like that, around my daughter and anybody else’s daughter is pretty concerning and a little frustrating too because there’s nothing I can really do about that."
Flagler County sheriff's deputies reviewed surveillance video from inside the school and say the teen and three other students entered the bathroom and then, moments later the three students ran out of the bathroom.
"I’m glad the students did that. I’m glad it didn’t turn into anything worse," said Staly. "This kid needs to be taught a very serious lesson."
Andrew Smith lives near Matanzas High School and works as a teacher in another school district, but he says threats are becoming more common.
"It’s happening more and more and that’s the scary part," said Smith. "We have to do code red drills, we have to do lockdown drills, it’s almost common place now."
Smith says he hopes new technology can help alert police to threatening posts on social media.
"It should be almost instantaneous that a kid posts a video with a gun, and instantly it’s flagged by the AI," said Smith. "Then it can be reported to a local law enforcement agency."
Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore also emphasized the district’s commitment to safety, stating, "We will collaborate with the FCSO to identify and prosecute individuals who commit crimes on our campuses, whether during school hours or at public events."
Weapon not yet recovered
What we don't know:
Deputies are still searching for the gun seen in the social media photo. Investigators believe the teen may have thrown it into the woods or disposed of it elsewhere, but despite efforts — including the use of K-9 units — they have not yet recovered it.
Authorities have not publicly identified how the teen obtained the firearm or whether an adult may have supplied it. The potential motive behind the teen bringing the weapon to the game also remains unclear.
What you can do:
Authorities urge anyone with information on its whereabouts to submit a tip by calling 386-313-4911, emailing TIPS@flaglersheriff.com, using the FCSO app or website, or reporting through the FortifyFL app at getfortifyfl.com.
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The Source: The information in this article comes from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.