12-year-old sent to juvenile detention after pulling a BB gun out in cafeteria

The teacher who intervened when a cafeteria full of kids witnessed a BB gun in a student’s hands at Lehigh Acres Middle School has been dubbed a hero by the sheriff.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno didn’t hold back when discussing what happened in the cafeteria on Wednesday.

Marceno made it clear to parents and guardians that they must sit their kids down and talk to them. Kids should understand the dangers of a weapon of any kind and the dangers of making a threat against a school.

“This type of behavior is unacceptable and disgusting,” Marceno said.

Marceno said the 12-year-old student had been feuding with the other student, and on Wednesday, she brought the BB gun in her backpack.

The 12-year-old whipped the BB gun out in the cafeteria, and the two students started to fight over the gun. An unidentified faculty member stepped in and got the gun away from them.

“This faculty member is a hero,” Marceno said. “She walked into a horrifying situation and she took care of business.”

The girl who brought the BB gun to Lehigh Acres Middle School faces multiple charges. Marceno and Superintendant Christopher Bernier are pleading with parents and guardians to talk to their kids so this doesn’t happen again.

“It’s having those parents and guardians sit their children down and say,” Marceno said. “This is a tough conversation, but your choices and decisions may have huge consequences in your life.”

“We must instill in our young people the responsibility to come forward and the protection that when they do, they’ll be safe from harm,” Bernier said.

Marceno said it’s unclear if the BB gun was loaded when it was pulled out in the cafeteria or where the student got the weapon.

According to the 20th Judicial Circuit, the 12-year-old has been sent to juvenile detention for 21 days.