A Flagler Palm Coast High School student was arrested after bringing a 9 mm pistol to campus and then pointing it at another student after school in a McDonald’s restroom, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
The 15-year-old student was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, possession of a firearm on school property and possession of a firearm by a minor.
The News-Journal is not identifying the student because he has not been charged as an adult.
An FPC student told school resource deputies Sept. 5 that the 15-year-old had pointed the gun at him the prior day in the restroom of a McDonald’s in the Target shopping center just west of the high school, according to the sheriff’s office. The incident took place when they were “hanging out” with other students after school, the sheriff’s office stated.
The student said he believed the 15-year-old had the gun with him throughout the school day.
Deputies immediately took the 15-year-old out of class on Sept. 5 and searched his backpack, which did not contain any weapons.
A 15-year-old Flagler Palm Coast High School student was arrested after he brought this gun to school on Sept. 4, 2025, and later pointed it at a student in a McDonald’s restroom in Palm Coast, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
The student admitted he was at the McDonald’s but denied having a firearm. Deputies, though, learned that video of the incident had been posted to the 15-year-old’s Instagram account and subsequently deleted, the sheriff’s office stated.
Deputies then spoke with a student who said they had seen the video showing the 15-year-old suspect pointing the gun at the other student, the sheriff’s office stated.
Deputies then spoke to the 15-year-old again who then said the gun was in his bedroom closet. Deputies checked and found a 9 mm CANik pistol and a magazine loaded with ammunition, the sheriff’s office stated.
The 15-year-old said that he had been “just playing around” but admitted that he pointed the gun at the other student. He also admitted that he had carried into the high school, the sheriff’s office stated.
The student was arrested, taken to the jail and turned over to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
“If you bring a gun to school or point it at someone else, you will be arrested. It doesn’t matter if you think you were just playing around; we will not tolerate this behavior and a 15-year-old playing with a gun is a recipe for disaster,” Sheriff Rick Staly stated in the release. “I commend the students who spoke up and reported this to our school resource deputies so they could investigate.
“This is a great example of why our SRD build rapports with our students. Parents, we don’t like arresting your children, but we have a zero-tolerance policy, so you need to be the Sheriff in your home and know what your child is doing,” Staly stated.
Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore thanked the student who reported the incident.
“When it comes to the safety of our students, it’s a top priority,” Moore stated in the release. “Thanks to the ‘See Something, Say Something’ initiative taken by a student, others were safer as a result. If you bring a weapon on any of our campuses, you will face serious consequences. Our students, faculty and staff will work in accordance with our laws to help keep everyone safe.”
Authorities reminded that “If you see something, say something” call 386-313-4911, notify a school resource deputy or school faculty or submit a tip through FortifyFL at getfortifyfl.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: FPC student took gun to class, pointed it at student after school