11-Year Old Bellview Middle Student Charged With Mass Shooting Threat Against Escambia Schools

September 14, 2024

An 11-year old Bellview Middle School student was arrested in connection with a Friday social media threat against schools in Escambia County.

The female student, whose name has not been released, was charged with written or electronic threats to conduct a mass shooting, a second degree felony, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest came after a joint investigation involving the ECSO, FBI and the Escambia County School District.

Investigators said the investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests may be forthcoming.

“Safety of our students is a top priority,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said. He said the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office takes all threats seriously.

“We are grateful to our students and staff for remaining calm and professional during what was a stressful morning.  To the parents who entrust us with their children every day, thank you, as well,” the school district said in a statement Friday afternoon.

“Be certain, we will use every tool at our disposal to be sure the person or persons responsible for today’s disruption never has the opportunity to do something like this again.  We will work with our partners in law enforcement as they investigate further and we will pursue charges. We want to send the message that this behavior will not be tolerated in any of our schools.  To those who seek to promote chaos by knowingly spreading harmful and disruptive disinformation, we will pursue you with every legal means available.”

The safety and well-being of our students, employees and community at-large is, and will remain, your school district’s number one priority. We will not waver,” the district statement concluded.

Friday morning, the district said they were investigating a potential threat against several area schools. The district did not provide any additional detail, and no specific schools were identified.

Numerous parents provided NorthEscambia.com with a copy of the alleged photo and threat that were posted online. A search indicated that photo was posted first a year ago and it was altered with additional text.

Friday’s threat was the second in Escambia County this week.  A social media threat Monday (pictured below) against Ernest Ward Middle School was deemed unfounded by the district. Escambia County Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard said the alleged threat was discussed on social media and was believed to be “internal” involving students at the school in Walnut Hill.

Comments

7 Responses to “11-Year Old Bellview Middle Student Charged With Mass Shooting Threat Against Escambia Schools”

  1. EWMS PARENT on September 16th, 2024 12:32 pm

    I hope law enforcement makes an example out of the student AND the parents..!! But at the end of the day, 11 is old enough to know right from wrong.. Throw the book at her.!
    Parents, do better….

  2. Randon on September 14th, 2024 4:29 pm

    I can’t help but wonder, of the 5 comments how many are parents of a student currently enrolled in our district?

  3. JTV on September 14th, 2024 2:41 pm

    Expulsion, one year in juvy eight years no electronics and probation. Her friends involved get the same

  4. Bill T on September 14th, 2024 12:20 pm

    The parents failed this kid 100% and you’re gonna hear a lot of people say it’s not the parents it’s the child !! Apparently these parents didn’t do a good job of watching and discipline this kid. Not checking the computer to see what was going on or apparently anything else!! I guess what they were doing was more important at the time. Now your child will have a nasty record because of the neglect you have chose to give your child. Now the reason I say all this is because SHE IS ELEVEN YEARS OLD. I hope the investigation points in the parents direction quickly!!!!

  5. Susie on September 14th, 2024 10:56 am

    Parents, where are your children and what are they doing??? If YOU don’t know, people are going to look to YOU as the problem. Sad but true.

  6. anne on September 14th, 2024 10:55 am

    This child needs to be without her phone until she is 18 yrs. old as punishment.

  7. tg on September 14th, 2024 10:19 am

    Make her an example of what not to do. This is effecting others education.