NEED TO KNOW
- Two middle school students have been accused of causing at least $50,000 worth of damage after destroying an elementary school’s media center
- The 12-year-old and 13-year-old have been charged following the damage at Friendship Elementary School in Deltona, Florida, according to the sheriff’s office
- Both students were turned in to the police by their moms, authorities said
Two middle school students in Florida have been charged after causing around $50,000 worth of damage to a school’s media center, authorities have said.
On Sunday, Sept. 14, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO) shared bodycam footage on Facebook of the damage done to Friendship Elementary School in Deltona, after deputies responded to a fire alarm overnight.
“Once on scene, they found a glass door had been shattered and the media center had been vandalized,” the sheriff’s office wrote alongside the video.
The clip saw officers checking the location, making their way around overturned tables and other pieces of furniture and items thrown around the floor.
Police confirmed that the pair’s moms had turned them in.
After sharing images of two persons of interest in the video, the sheriff’s office later confirmed on Monday, Sept. 15, that they’d found the pair responsible for the damage.
The VSO said, “The subjects responsible for the vandalism of Friendship Elementary have been identified.”
PEOPLE is choosing not to name the boys or show their faces, as they are minors.
The sheriff’s office continued, “After the video posted, we received lots of emails identifying them (thank you all!), as well as contacts from each of the defendants’ mothers,” confirming that the two boys’ moms had “turned them in.”
“The boys confessed to the incident, which caused at least $50,000 in damage to the media center,” the post stated.
“They broke into the school during the daytime hours, then returned later in the evening to look at the damage and cause more,” officers added.
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The sheriff’s office confirmed the two defendants had each been charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of trespassing on school grounds, criminal mischief and theft.
Friendship Elementary said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, “We are thankful to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of this case to ensure the individuals responsible are held accountable.”
“Just like with threats, our campuses have zero tolerance for destruction of property and vandalism,” they added.
“Despite the incident, our students, families, and staff have approached the week with positivity and camaraderie. VCS [Volusia County Schools] and Friendship Elementary also appreciate the outpouring of support from the community in response to this situation,” the statement concluded.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
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