[PHOTO CREDIT: mdm.lake.k12.fl.us]
[Original Publish Date: 11/05/19]
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MOUNT DORA, Florida — A Mount Dora Middle School student was arrested Monday for a written threat and witness tampering.
A female victim approached the school resource officer (SRO) at Mount Dora Middle School and told him she had been threatened via direct messaging on Instagram, according to an arrest affidavit. According to the victim, she was at a local park with a female friend on Saturday when the 13-year-old suspect stole her friend’s bag. Lake Legal News is not naming the suspect due to his age.
The following day, the victim and suspect were direct messaging through Instagram when the suspect asked her for a video of another friend. She refused and told him not to ask her for anything because he stole her friend’s bag, according to the affidavit. That is when the threats began.
The suspect messaged the victim not to report the theft and stated, “I will (expletive) come to the park tmr (tomorrow) I will (expletive expletive.) I stg (swear to God) on my (racial slur) kayne ima hurt you. Ya’ll gon get kilt (you all going to get killed.)”
The victim responded and stated, “if you touch me what so (expletive) ever ima press charges.”
The suspect responded to that with, “ion (I don’t) GAF (give an expletive) ab any charges I’ll kill your (expletive) and do the time for that (expletive) as long as you outta this world.”
The suspect continued with, “Ima hurt you I told you already, (expletive.) Why don’t you ss (screenshot) this ima kill you (expletive) just wait.” The suspect continued on and messaged, “report me right now you got bruises.”
When the SRO questioned the victim about that message she told him the suspect had previously punched her in the arm, leaving a bruise.
The suspect continued with the threats and messaged the victim, “yk I stay widda strap (you know I stay with a gun) just say nun” and then sent a photo of a hand holding a handgun with a message, “I ain’t playing you gon get this heat.” Then the suspect sent a video of an emoji covering the face of someone holding a gun. The audio in the video said, “I’m the wrong one to (expletive) with bruh, I’ll put a pistol to your (expletive) head,” the affidavit states.
The suspect began talking about gang affiliations and the victim expressed fear, as she believes a member of the suspect’s family belongs to the Bloods gang. She also told the SRO she knows the suspect has a reputation for fighting and has had several suspensions from school. His most recent fight was two weeks ago for fighting, and he was suspended, according to the affidavit.
The victim and her guardians requested prosecution. The suspect was charged with making written threats and witness tampering. He was turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
