FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 9-year-old boy was ordered Wednesday to be on home detention for 21 days after he brought a gun to school and allegedly threatened three students he claimed had bullied him.
The boy, whose identity is being withheld because of his age, was arrested Tuesday after authorities said he brought a loaded gun to school and pointed it at his three classmates at Lauderhill Paul Turner Elementary School.
"You see this? This is a real gun," police said the child told his peers.
According to an arrest report, the boy approached one of the students in the hallway and showed him the gun, removing the magazine to show that it contained bullets.
Police said the boy warned the other student that he would shoot him if he told on him.
Authorities said the third-grader approached the second victim in the hallway, pointed the gun at the student's forehead and again warned that he would shoot him if he told the teacher.
According to the arrest report, the third student was shown the gun in class when the 9-year-old asked him, "Wanna see my gun?"
Police said the student said, "Put that away. I'm going to tell the teacher," at which point the suspect pointed the gun at the child's left thigh and said, "Don't tell the teacher or I'll shoot you in the leg."
Police said the teacher was ultimately told that the boy had a gun on him and she ordered him to remove whatever he had in his pocket.
Police said the boy removed the gun from his front right pocket and the teacher notified administrators.
Authorities said the school resource officer took the gun from the student and took the child into custody.
According to the arrest report, the gun is owned by the child's father.
The boy's parents told a judge Wednesday that one of the victims is a "known bully" at the school who has issues with several other students.
It's unclear whether the school has tried to address those bullying allegations in the past.
As for the student who was arrested, he is not allowed to return to Lauderhill Paul Turner Elementary and is already enrolled in an alternative school.
Judge Elijah Wilson ordered that the child undergo a psychiatric evaluation, and he is not allowed to go on the internet or social media. No weapons are allowed inside the boy's home.
The defense asked Wilson to allow the boy to continue accompanying his mother to and from a hospital since she has a serious medical condition.
His next status hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday.