Security stepped up at Taravella High School a day after student brings toy gun to school

Student arrested was 'nice, good kid,' students say

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Security was stepped up Friday morning at Taravella High School in Coral Springs, a day after a student was arrested for allegedly bringing a toy gun on campus.

"I really don't know what to think," sophomore student Savannah Burke said.

Burke told Local 10 News that she knows the student who was arrested. 

"He was in one of my classes and he was really nice," she said.

Police said the student admitted to bringing a toy gun to school and ditching it in a garbage can after another student reported seeing the gun. 

The school was placed on lockdown and armed officers swarmed the campus.

Panicked parents looked on from across the street until the all-clear was given.

"He did it to get attention, to be somebody. I don't know," senior student Kereen Brown said.

"From what my son tells me, he's a good kid, so there's no telling what's going on," one parent, David Agosto Sr. said.

"He's on the football team with me and I hang out with him everyday (and) give him rides sometimes," David Agosto Jr., who is a freshman at the school, said.

Fake gun or not, authorities said the threat and the concern were real.

"I think he should be punished," Brown said.

The teen was arrested on a misdemeanor charge, but it’s unclear how he will be disciplined by the school.

According to court officials, the teen has been released and has a notice to appear before a judge at a later date.

The students Local 10 News spoke with on Friday said they went through drills and practiced what to do in a situation like this just a few weeks ago.  

   


About the Author:

Layron Livingston made the move from Ohio's Miami Valley to Miami, Florida, to join the Local 10 News team.