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An 11-year-old boy from Virginia is facing over two dozen charges for allegedly making swatting calls to schools in Florida. The first bomb threat was made on May 14 at Buddy Taylor Middle School.
Over the next eight days, the boy made more than 20 false bomb or shooting threats to schools and other locations across the state.
Investigators were able to track the calls to a home in Virginia. When deputies searched the home, the young boy admitted to making the fake 911 calls. He also said he made a similar threat to the Maryland State House.
As the investigation continued, officials found evidence the boy made swatting calls in Alabama, Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska, and Tennessee.
“This kid’s behavior was escalating and becoming more dangerous,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “I’m glad we got him before he escalated out of control and hurt someone.”
The boy is being held at a juvenile detention facility in Virginia while he awaits extradition to Florida, where he is facing 29 felony charges and 14 misdemeanors.