Mass Shooting Drawing Scene On Florida Student's Homework Lands Man In Jail
A man from Florida was arrested Friday because he reportedly drew a disturbing and threatening picture on an elementary school student’s homework. The drawing showed a schoolhouse on fire as a man shoots with his gun.
The 33-year-old, Robert Paul Alexander Edwards of Mexico Beach, Florida, allegedly drew the horrifying scene in the student's notebook. Edwards in his drawing also illustrated two people shot on the ground lying in a pool of blood. The words, "Pew, Pew, Pew," were written next to the person with the gun who was shown shooting at people standing in a queue. There was another person depicted in the picture who was on fire next to the words "AHHH! It burns!"
Sheriff Mike Harrison, from Gulf County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Edwards who has been charged with violating Florida State Statute 836.10 — written threat to kill or do bodily injury.
According to the press release by Sheriff Harrison, the investigation sparked after a staff at the Port St. Joe Elementary School saw the illustration and contacted the School Resource Deputy about the alarming picture drawn on a student’s homework assignment. It is said that the drawing clearly showed a school building on fire, a person running from the school on fire, and several others who are shown standing in a queue were being shot by a gunman.
Sheriff Harrison said: "Our country has been affected one too many times with horrific school tragedies. We take matters like this very seriously." The case has been investigated jointly by the Sheriff and officials with Gulf District Schools. Investigators thoroughly interviewed Edwards.
According to the release the department also explained that although the actions illustrated in the drawing were taken seriously, there was no indication that he would carry out the threat as depicted.
However, it is not known if Edwards had any connection with the student or how he got the student’s homework assignment notebook.
In another incident in 2012, a teenage student was student arrested as his drawing demonstrated concerning behavior. A 16-year-old boy from Cedar Creek High School in Galloway Township, New Jersey, made illustrations in his notebook that appeared to be weapons.
After a teacher noticed the drawing in the student’s notebook, the school authority contacted the police. The student was taken to the Galloway Township Police Department.
Later, during the investigation, police searched the boy’s home on the 300 block of East Spencer Lane where they found several electronic parts and chemicals which if mixed together, could cause an explosion.
The teenager whose name was not disclosed was charged with possession of a weapon and an explosive device. He was placed in Haborfields Juvenile Detention Center.
According to a report in CBS Philly, speaking about the incident, the Superintendent of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, Steven Ciccariello said, "This is a perfect example of a teacher implementing her training. She saw drawings that appeared disturbing to her and alerted school officials."
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