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Police: Shooting scare at Daytona Beach high school was 'cruel prank,' students involved may face criminal charges
Several students at a Florida high school may face criminal charges and possible expulsion after causing a shooting scare in what police say was a "cruel prank."
Misinformation, false rumors, and conspiracy theories abounded on social media after two groups of students at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach caused a panic Friday by making false reports that a gunman was in the school building, Daytona Beach Police Department said in a Facebook message.
"This entire incident appears to have been a cruel prank by several students that has now gotten out of control due to internet trolls, miss-informed people and in some cases, people that are not even in Florida, or have kids that go to school at Mainland," police said Sunday.
The police department posted a timeline of events and their investigation to clarify what happened. Detectives tirelessly reviewed video evidence, tracked down individuals, and conducted interviews before the department posted the findings.
On Thursday, Mainland High School was made aware of a threat that was written in a bathroom stall. An investigation by the school and police determined that no threat existed, as the graffiti found in the stall was a "common occurrence," police said. However, an increased law enforcement presence was added at the school as a precaution.
The next day, several students "decided to capitalize on the threat from the day before (bathroom stall) and appear to collaborate with each other to create a panic," police said.
"The groups can clearly be seen on video, getting into specific positions and locations within the cafeteria, timing their actions. Several female students walk towards the school administrator laughing and smiling, all the way, up until they reached the administrator, at which point one of the females tells the administrator that someone had a gun. At this same time, one of the male kids, already positioned near the exit to the cafeteria, waited until the female student made the statement, then looked at her and ran out of the building, causing a large crowd to follow him," police said.
Video evidence showed that students did not flinch or react as they would be expected to had gunfire actually been heard, according to detectives.
Of the students interviewed, none were able to identify the purported gunman or the moment shots were supposedly fired. "Stories have changed from seeing the guy, or a gun, to 'they just heard there was one,'" police said.
Making a false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner against a person or persons is a second-degree felony, according to police. In addition to pending criminal charges for the "pranksters," detectives are recommending that everyone involved be expelled from school, the statement said.
Volusia County Schools released a statement Monday indicating that "unfounded rumors" and "threats" against the school were being "spread by students on social media."
"Spreading false information on Social Media is a very serious offense. This offense can carry a charge of a 2nd-degree felony by law enforcement and suspension with a recommendation for expulsion from Volusia County Schools," the school district said. "This behavior will not be tolerated as the safety of our students and staff is paramount."
"Every student linked to the disruption on Friday has been identified, and those with direct involvement will face the appropriate consequences based on our student Code of Conduct," the district added.
School officials advised parents to communicate the dangers of such pranks to their children and explain the severity of the consequences.
Video: Homeowner fights off black bear that jumped over porch gate and headed straight for his dog
A trio of dachshunds — Piper, Pickles, and Pepper — are kind of like kids to Walt Hickox and his wife.
"I don't have any kids, and my wife's kids are gone. We got together in 2006. We got [the dogs] shortly after. And that was our ... that was our family," Hickox told WESH-TV.
Last week, Hickox took Piper, Pickles, and Pepper outside his home in Daytona Beach, Florida, in the hopes they could scare off some "cats," the station said.
But instead they found a much bigger — and moreterrifying — visitor.
What happened?
A Ring doorbell video camera caught the moment a black bear bounded over a gate at the porch's entrance last Wednesday evening, the station said in a separate story on the incident.
The dogs actually headed for the gate just before the bear entered the screened-in porch.
"Apparently, it wasn't a cat that they were after because they went, 'Alright, that side is clear.' That's when the bear came out," Hickox told WESH.
He told the station the bear made a beeline for Pickles.
But Hickox immediately turned and charged at the bear, which briefly tangled with Hickox before backing out of the porch. He moved a bench in front of the entrance.
Here's the clip of the terrifying encounter:
Video shows Florida man fending off bear to protect dogs youtu.be
"I just wanted to deflect the tension off the dog long enough for him to realize, 'Hey, there's a human in here, too,'" Hickox added to the station.
He said he even shared a surreal moment with the animal.
"I swear there was a fraction of time where the bear sat up and kicked his head to the side like, 'What are you screaming about?'" Hickox recalled to WESH.
The aftermath
The station said Kerry Hickox called 911 and told dispatchers, "My husband was just attacked by a bear, who do we get hold of to get this thing removed? He's got puncture wounds and scratches, but not enough for an ambulance or anything."
After he had time to process what had just gone down, Hickox understandably lost it.
"When I had time to just sit and stare, it all hit me," he told WESH. "And I started bawling. I couldn't believe how close to death I was. And I did it for my dog."
Law enforcement and bear biologists tried without success to capture the bear, the station said, adding that wildlife officials said the bear will be humanely killed upon capture since it attacked a human. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation set a bear trap in the neighborhood, WESH noted.
Hickox told the station he doesn't want anything bad to happen to the bear, but he also doesn't want people to be in danger.
Wildlife officials added to WESH that if a black bear attacks, people should fight back aggressively like Hickox did.
“To reduce human-bear conflicts, remove or secure all food attractants from around your house and yard, including garbage, pet food and birdseed," officials added to the station. "To avoid an encounter between a bear and your dog, bang on your door and flip your house lights on and off to give the bear time to leave the area before letting your dog out. If your dog and a bear get into a fight, make noise and use your bear spray or a water hose if available. If the bear makes contact with you, fight back aggressively.”
'I did it for my dog': Daytona Beach man attacked by bear speaksyoutu.be
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