VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A 12-year-old was arrested in Volusia County on allegations of writing and posting a “detailed manifesto” about a mass shooting plan at Southwestern Middle School in DeLand, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office on Monday announced the arrest of Josephine “Christian” Simmons-Peters.
[VIDEO: Volusia County 12-year-old accused of writing ‘detailed manifesto’ to carry out school shooting due to bullying]
According to deputies, Simmons-Peters said she made the plan because she was bullied. Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the girl was “idolizing Columbine” and referenced it in the manifesto.
“This was a well thought-out plan. It talks about where to hide in a ditch. It talks about where to bring the guns into the school. It talks about who to target,” Chitwood said.
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The sheriff said the girl specifically named students she said bullied her. When deputies interviewed those students, they admitted they had been teasing her.
“That’s no excuse to be writing out a manifesto and talking about how you’re going to wipe people off the face of the Earth. There are steps in place that you go to and you use,” he said.
The 12-year-old faces charges of making written threats to kill and misuse of a two-way communications device.
“The VSO Behavioral Threat Assessment Unit will continue to monitor this case and intervene to prevent any acts of violence,” the sheriff’s office said.
No other information has been released.