Should kid at CHS with toy gun have criminal charges filed against him?

A 15-yr-old was arrested today for showing another kid a toy gun.  He has been arrested and "numerous charges will be filed"

"Police determined the student had shown the weapon to a 14-year-old male student. As a result, the 15-year-old “will receive numerous charges” and will be remanded to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, Williams said."

Yes, he was stupid, but I am tired of every person who commits a minor infraction receiving an arrest record and all the baggage that come with this process.

Wondering what others think. Try to put your kid in your mind.

Article:

http://villagegreennj.com/schools-kids/update-police-arrest-chs-9th-grader-weapons-possession-led-code-yellow/

Was it a look alike? I think they're illegal.

No clue about any details.

krugle1 said:

No clue about any details.

Then maybe the child actually broke some laws...hard to know without the full story and the actual list of charges filed.

Agree. It's one thing if it's a nerf gun or a water gun, another if it's a lookalike.

Ain't there a law against stupidity?

deborahg said:

Agree. It's one thing if it's a nerf gun or a water gun, another if it's a lookalike.

This^^^

At least he lived to tell about it...

Was JUST thinking that...

someone I know (ahem) brought a toy machine gun to our HS about 29 years ago and was suspended. It was a different time, for sure, though our school was comparable to CHS in many ways, so hearing this news brought back memories. 

It was a different time. I don't know what today's gun looked like and what the thought was behind bringing it. Was it enough of a toy that it was a joke? Was it to threaten someone? 

I think it's stupid and irresponsible in this day and age, but without knowing why I can't say if I think criminal charges are warranted.

I don't have any information either, but I don't think many 15 year olds have any interest in guns that don't look real.  Toy manufacturers know this and design their products to sell. 

Unless he was going to use it to threaten someone or had made other threats, I think its crazy, but I really don't know enough about it.

Does anyone know what happened to the student who made the social media threat a few weeks ago? Was that incident related to the one today? It's infuriating that there has been no communication or follow up with the community on whether there were any consequences or follow up on that incident. The instagram account of this individual was deeply disturbing, and as a parent I am honestly worried having my child in the the same school without knowing that this student is getting the help he needs and will not be returning until a professional can certify that he poses no threat. 

And to answer the question posed above, yes, charges should be filed. This is a HS student, not an elementary school kid. Given the current climate, they should know better than to intimidate others or even hide behind the threat of a weapon. 

I think he should be charged, but with something minor that will only put him on probation at least until he is 18 and out of high school...with the record being sealed..... Does NJ have the generic 'juvenile delinquency' charge?  This is assuming there is no indication it was meant to be threatening in any manner and accepts responsibility for acting inappropriately.  AT 15, he should have known better.  Just like the wiz kid who built the clock that looked like a bomb and brought it to school, but couldn't understand what the problem was.

Unless there is a significant history of aggressive behavior or current threats, he should have been immediately released to his parents.

Toy guns are serious business.  Its one thing if they are neon color and obviously water or sponge dart guns and you are in a public park, but otherwise if you choose to have a semi realistically looking toy gun, you need to keep it in your own home.....never at school-no matter what type of gun.

mantram said:

Does anyone know what happened to the student who made the social media threat a few weeks ago? Was that incident related to the one today? It's infuriating that there has been no communication or follow up with the community on whether there were any consequences or follow up on that incident. The instagram account of this individual was deeply disturbing, and as a parent I am honestly worried having my child in the the same school without knowing that this student is getting the help he needs and will not be returning until a professional can certify that he poses no threat. 

And to answer the question posed above, yes, charges should be filed. This is a HS student, not an elementary school kid. Given the current climate, they should know better than to intimidate others or even hide behind the threat of a weapon. 

Not sure why you'd make a connection between the two incidents?  On the surface there doesn't seem to be the remotest possibility that they're related, nor any reason why they would be, other than that they happened within a month or so of each other.

In any case, I'm not sure why it's so infuriating that whatever legal and disciplinary consequences imposed upon that student aren't provided to parents, particularly in light of his status as a juvenile and the laws that protect his privacy.  I've no doubt that if the student is capable of returning to school he will, and should, and if not he won't, and shouldn't.  I've also no doubt that the courts (to whatever extent they're involved, if any) and the BOE understand this.  Are you suggesting that there exists the possibility that the BOE wouldn't have professionals involved, and thus are just winging it??

The boy who threatened to kill students on socila media was released to his parents, this boy, who had a toy gun, was sent to the Essex County Jail.

What conclusions am I supposed to draw from that statement?  

What were the charges levied against each, the relative severity under the law, and the penalties associated with same?  Their histories?  Family situations?

Regarding the OP.   We don't know how "minor" this infraction was.  We don't know what he did with the toy gun or what his intentions were.   We don't know if he has a history of issues with the law.   Since he is only 15 he is a juvenile and his arrest record will be expunged when he turns 18.    

ctrzaska said:

Not sure why you'd make a connection between the two incidents?  On the surface there doesn't seem to be the remotest possibility that they're related, nor any reason why they would be, other than that they happened within a month or so of each other.

In any case, I'm not sure why it's so infuriating that whatever legal and disciplinary consequences imposed upon that student aren't provided to parents, particularly in light of his status as a juvenile and the laws that protect his privacy.  I've no doubt that if the student is capable of returning to school he will, and should, and if not he won't, and shouldn't.  I've also no doubt that the courts (to whatever extent they're involved, if any) and the BOE understand this.  Are you suggesting that there exists the possibility that the BOE wouldn't have professionals involved, and thus are just winging it??

THIS. We're all making judgments based on exactly zero information. My son is a ninth grader and they haven't even released the kid's name, let alone his background and the circumstances surrounding the incident. And that's appropriate. I trust Ms. Aaron, the police department, and the many professionals involved in this decision to make the right one. 

Why did I make a connection between the two incidents? Because, why not? I am indeed reaching a conclusion based on zero information, so perhaps some information would be good so as a mom I can deal with my rational and irrational fears. 

OF COURSE  I am not suggesting that anyone needs to know who the student is, or what his background or circumstances are. I agree that would not be appropriate at all. I would however like to know whether the student is back in school, and what steps and consequences followed, without anyone revealing identifying information.

If the student brought a lookalike gun to school he may have broken the law and would need to be charged. Also, if he can learn from this horrible lapse of judgement, it may greatly benefit him; in fact, such a lesson could literally be a life saver.

These incidents are in the hands of the police/courts and as such information is kept tightly under wraps.  The school shouldn't have to provide information deemed confidential by the criminal process to keep people from speculating wildly.  

cubby said:

If the student brought a lookalike gun to school he may have broken the law and would need to be charged. Also, if he can learn from this horrible lapse of judgement, it may greatly benefit him; in fact, such a lesson could literally be a life saver.

What charges can be brought against a youngster for possession of a toy that looks like a real gun?

Seriously.

TomR

but if they are going to release statement saying there will be serious charges and he will be held in jail...they should justify it.......not just say he brought a toy gun...

they don't need to give a name..but i think someone will find out ..and it will spread among families...they should say if threats were made or not..if it looked real or was a neon water gun, etc

Tom_R said:

What charges can be brought against a youngster for possession of a toy that looks like a real gun?

Under the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, the unlawful possession of a weapon (2C:39-5) includes this, which to this layman looks applicable:

(3)   Any person who knowingly has in his possession any imitation firearm in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of any school, college, university or other educational institution, without the written authorization of the governing officer of the institution, or while on any school bus is a disorderly person, irrespective of whether he possesses a valid permit to carry a firearm or a valid firearms purchaser identification card.

Well, that answers that, I assume.  Thanks google.

They said multiple charges and sent him to jail.  

They did.  And given that I'm sure they just didn't make up whatever else he was charged with, I'm sure that a further Google search could come up with more if the full circumstances of the incident were known to the public.  But they aren't.

Though you do seem to be oddly hung up on the go directly to jail, do not pass go thing for some reason. 

How are minors made aware of this law?

what the hell is an "imitation firearm"?  A BB gun I get, but a water gun gets you time in juvey?