For the second time in as many weeks, Volusia County has been the backdrop for an alarming narrative where children, not yet in their teens, find themselves in the grasp of the law. Yesterday, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrested an 11-year-old student from Highbanks Learning Center in Deltona for allegedly writing a "kill list." According to Orlando-News, the student, who remains unnamed due to his age, was charged with making a written threat to kill, a felony offense.
This recent incident echoes a similar case that surfaced last month when another 11-year-old, a female student at an Ormond Beach learning center, was booked on the same charge. Despite both students lacking access to any weapons, the Sheriff's Office underscored the severity of the charge.
Following the arrest, though the Sheriff’s Office released video showing the handcuffed boy being led into jail, the move has stirred public concern about the ramifications of criminalizing youth behavior, especially without evidence of an immediate threat. "Sheriff’s officials said the boy did not have access to any weapons, but he still faces a charge of making a written threat to kill," detailed in a report by ClickOrlando.
