Florida fifth grader arrested, charged with threatening a mass taking pictures, police say

A fifth grade pupil in Florida was arrested over the weekend and charged with sending a text message threatening to carry out a mass capturing, authorities mentioned.

In a statement Saturday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned it had discovered earlier that day of a "threatening text message" despatched by a student at an elementary college.

It said its local college risk enforcement staff was instantly notified and started investigating. The ten-year-old boy was interviewed and charged later with "making a written menace to conduct a mass shooting," the sheriff's workplace stated.

In video shared by authorities, the boy will be seen being led into a police vehicle.

“This pupil’s conduct is sickening, particularly after the current tragedy in Uvalde, Texas,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a press release, noting that the menace got here simply days after the lethal faculty taking pictures at Robb Elementary Faculty left 19 students and two academics lifeless.

“Right now shouldn't be the time to act like a little bit delinquent. It’s not funny,” he mentioned. “This child made a pretend threat, and now he’s experiencing actual consequences.”

Marceno stated his workforce “didn’t hesitate one second...NOT ONE SECOND,” to research the incident.

The remark got here as authorities in Uvalde face mounting criticism over their response to the Might 24 college taking pictures after it got here to mild that they waited roughly an hour for backup as a substitute of instantly shifting in on the gunman.

Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based mostly in London.