HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla.- On, Tuesday, 09-15-2020 at 2:45 p.m., several students at Hernando High School advised School Resource Deputy Chris Downey that they observed a student in possession of a firearm on school grounds. The student was identified as Demetrius Roberts Jr. DOB/11-26-2003. The students advised Roberts was showing off the firearm during class. Deputy Downey discovered Roberts had already boarded a school bus to go home.
Deputies responded to Roberts’ residence in Hill n Dale where they spoke to Roberts’ mother regarding the incident. The mother allowed deputies to enter the residence and search her son’s backpack. Roberts acknowledged the backpack belonged to him.
Upon searching the backpack, the deputy located a firearm along with schoolwork with Roberts’ name on it. Roberts was arrested and transported back to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning.
Roberts admitted to detectives that he was in possession of the firearm at school and showed the firearm to at least one other student. Roberts advised detectives that he had no intention to use the weapon while on school grounds or toward anyone in particular.
A criminal history check revealed Roberts had an outstanding juvenile pick up order from the Miami-Dade Police Department for Failure to Appear on a charge of Battery on a Specified Official/Employee. Roberts was also found to be on active juvenile probation on a charge of Burglary of a Structure.
Roberts was charged with Possession of a Weapon on School Property and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Under 18, which are both felonies.
Roberts was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Ocala for detention.
Students are encouraged to immediately report suspicious or illegal activity to law enforcement or a responsible adult. As always all 911-caller information (Name, Address and Telephone number) is protected by Florida Statute and will not be released by law enforcement. A secondary option is to utilize the FortifyFL app to anonymously report suspicious or illegal activity. The information will then be relayed to the appropriate law enforcement agency.