13-year-old arrested for threatening to shoot up school, deputes say

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a seventh-grader on Tuesday after it was discovered that he threatened to commit a shooting at Galaxy Middle School.

Deputies said they began their investigation on Monday after school officials reported a series of rumors about threats that started last week.

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According to deputies, the initial investigation did not identify any threats.

However, on Tuesday school officials provided the sheriff’s office with screenshots of a Snapchat thread in which the student, Ronaldo Dwarka, made multiple threats to bring a gun to school and shoot people.

According to deputies, one message stated: “It happening tomorrow and Friday for dose you survive. I’m not (expletive) around anymore.”

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Another message stated: “After that ima give the gun to the other kid let him finish the job” and “Js watch yuh back tomorrow.”

At the end of the chat, the student stated: “That my last day there tomorrow.”

The 13-year-old told deputies that he sent the message as a joke.

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“Call it a joke if you want, but if you threaten to shoot up your school, then you’re going to face the consequences,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “I’m imploring all parents to get this point across to their kids. Otherwise, law enforcement will be teaching the lesson instead.”

Some students were absent from school because of the threats, deputies said.

Dwarka was charged with two felonies, written threat to kill or injure and making a false report of a bomb or explosive weapon of mass destruction.

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He was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice where he was held in secure detention.

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