A 19-year-old student was arrested after bringing a stun gun to Miami Palmetto Senior High School and displaying it in front of classmates on Tuesday morning.
Deja Iman Williams has been charged with possession of a weapon on school property, a third-degree felony, and disruption of an educational institution, a second-degree misdemeanor, according to the arrest report.
The incident took place around 11:45 a.m. at the school, located at 7431 SW 120th St. in Pinecrest. Investigators say Williams took out the stun gun in front of other students and activated it multiple times, causing electric shocks. Her actions alarmed both students and staff, with some individuals leaving their posts and duties out of concern.
Several students reported Williams’ behavior to school officials, saying she had been pointing the weapon at them and repeatedly zapping it. Police responded swiftly, retrieving the stun gun and taking Williams into custody without further incident. No injuries were reported during the incident.
Williams was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade. The school’s handling of the situation has raised concerns, particularly from Williams’ mother, who spoke with 7News. She expressed that the stun gun did not belong to her daughter, and she was unsure why Williams had it in her possession. Additionally, she noted that her daughter has developmental disabilities, which the school was aware of, and voiced concerns about how the situation was managed.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools issued a statement addressing the incident:
“Miami-Dade County Public Schools is aware of an isolated incident that occurred at Miami Palmetto Senior High earlier this week where a weapon was found on campus. No threats were made, and the matter was handled according to the Code of Student Conduct. As a result of this incident, the individual in question was subsequently arrested by Miami-Dade Schools Police. Please know that the safety and security of our students are of the utmost importance.”
The incident has raised questions about school safety protocols, and local authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Williams’ actions.
