Girl, 11, brings box cutter to elementary school, approaches boy from behind, pokes it on his neck and whispers threat: Cops

An 11-year-old girl brought a box cutter to her southwest Florida elementary school Thursday and used it to poke a boy in the neck from behind while whispering a threat to him.

What are the details?

The Collier County Sheriff's Office said the girl faces criminal charges after the incident at Manatee Elementary School, which is in Naples.

The victim reported the incident to school administrators, who then contacted the sheriff's office, authorities said.

Detectives interviewed both students, the sheriff's office said, adding that the victim said the girl approached him from behind in the school cafeteria and poked him in the neck with the knife several times while whispering a threat.

Detectives and the school Youth Relations Deputy reviewed school security footage, which confirmed the victim’s account, the sheriff's office said.

The Youth Relations Deputy searched the girl and found the box cutter hidden in her waistband, the sheriff's office said, adding that she was taken into custody on charges of possession of a weapon on school property and aggravated battery.

How are folks reacting?

Commenters on a Miami Herald story about the incident published by Yahoo News expressed dismay, to say the least:

• "Society has about 50 years left. It'll get worse every day. Glad I won't be here," one commenter lamented.
• "I would like to know more about their history," another commenter offered. "There is no excuse to bring a weapon to school and threaten another child. However, if that child had been bullied, and she felt nothing was done, I understand — but it still doesn't make it right."
• "11 years old. What a heartache to see children this young already heading down this path," another commenter observed. "Bad parenting .... horrible sites on the Internet, gangs? Dark future for so many. Very disturbing. Start praying America. We are in a terrible 'woke' place and desperately need help."
• "These weapons of war should not be available to the public," another commenter suggested, tongue fully in cheek. "When will Congress pass common-sense box cutter laws?"
• "Charge her parents, too," another commenter stated.
• "America, where have you gone?" another commenter wondered. "Take [the] Bible and God out of the schools, and hell comes marching in!"

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!