Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods recently announced the arrests of two juveniles, one of whom is just 12 years old, in connection with the recent killings of three teenagers in Florida. During a press conference, Woods slammed “society,” “school districts,” and gun law rhetoric, stating that they failed to hold juveniles accountable and minimized their actions.
The suspects are accused of fatally shooting three teenagers, including Layla Silvernail and Camille Quarles, both 16, and an unnamed 17-year-old male, on or around March 30 in rural Marion County. A third juvenile suspect remains at large, and the attorney general’s office is weighing whether to charge all three suspects as adults.
“Really, [the suspects’ parents] don’t have a whole lot to say. If you’re a parent, put yourself in their shoes. Holy hell. Panic. I’m scared to death as a parent. Embarrassed. Ashamed. What do you think they’re gonna say?” the sheriff said.
“There are individuals out there viewing … who want to blame the one thing that has no ability or the capacity to commit the crime itself, and that’s the gun,” Woods said. “These individuals committed the crime.”
Sheriff Woods expressed his disappointment with society for failing the juveniles, stating that we do not hold them accountable and minimize their actions. He believes that we need to start addressing these issues at an early age and hold juveniles accountable for their actions. Woods also called out school districts for not providing enough resources to address these problems, such as counselors and mental health professionals.
Woods went on to criticize gun law rhetoric, stating that it only focuses on guns and not on the root cause of the problem. He believes that society needs to address the underlying issues that lead to violence and crime, such as poverty, lack of education, and mental health issues.
