11-year-old boy charged with threatening mass shooting at Florida school

An 11-year-old Port Orange, Florida student was arrested Monday for allegedly threatening to carry out a mass shooting at a high school, according to a statement released by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

“As promised. We just arrested a Creekside Middle School who made threats to commit a school shooting at Creekside or Silver Sands Middle School. He had written a list of names and targets. He says it was all a joke,” Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood said in an X social media post announcing the arrest.

The juvenile, a Volusia County resident, had weapons and a list of people to kill, but later declared it was a “joke,” Chitwood added.

As promised. We just arrested a Creekside Middle School student who made threats to commit a school shooting at Creekside or Silver Sands Middle School.

He had written a list of names and targets. He says it was all a joke. pic.twitter.com/1yHHiD0pJj

— Mike Chitwood (@SheriffChitwood) September 16, 2024

The student was charged with felony by making a written threat of mass shooting, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

During a search of the student's residence, agents found airsoft rifles and pistols, magazines, realistic-looking fake ammunition, several knives and swords along with a notebook with the list of names of students he was supposed to murder.

“At the house @VolusiaSheriff deputies recovered airsoft guns, fake ammunition, knives, swords and other weapons he was showing off to other students on video. For his actions, Carlo "Kingston" Dorelli (age 11) is charged with a felony (making a written threat of a mass shooting),” the Sheriff added on X.

The arrest came after an anonymous tip from another Creekside School student led officers to a group of Silver Sands students who were involved in a FaceTime conversation with the suspect, according to the report.

The group told detectives that the 11-year-old boy showed them multiple firearms and knives, but they could not determine whether the weapons were real or not.

When the minor was questioned about plans for an alleged shooting, he responded that it was just a “joke,” and that he was not really making a direct threat. He said the weapons he had were fake.

Chitwood warned that starting this week, authorities will begin investigating parents of any minors who post threats of school shootings online.

He added that they would also post pictures of arrested children and their parents when such threats take place, warning that they need to do a better job with discipline.