Man arrested after drawing of apparent mass shooting found on child's homework

A Florida man is facing charges after he allegedly drew a “disturbing” picture — depicting an apparent mass shooting — on a student’s homework assignment, police said.

Robert Paul Alexander Edwards, 33, of Mexico Beach, was arrested Friday on charges of writing threats to kill or do bodily injury after a staffer at Port St. Joe Elementary School spotted the troubling drawing on a student’s homework assignment of a burning building and several people being shot, according to the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office.

“The image included two people on the ground in what appeared to be a pool of blood,” Sheriff Mike Harrison said in a statement released Friday. “The words, ‘Pew, Pew, Pew,’ were written next to the person with the gun.”

Investigators later determined that Edwards drew the image, but investigators don’t believe he had any plans to carry out the threat.

“Our country has been affected one too many times with horrific school tragedies,” Harrison said. “We take matters like this very seriously.”

Harrison did not indicate Edwards’ relationship to the student, but The Port St. Joe Star reported he’s the child’s stepfather. He was jailed on $150,000 bail after being charged with the second-degree felony charge.

An investigation was launched after the drawing was determined to be a “potential threat,” school officials said in a statement to WJHG.

“This action was perceived as a potential threat and immediate action was the only recourse,” Gulf County Schools Superintendent Jim Norton said. “These matters will never be taken lightly and they may not be simply considered erring on the side of caution.”

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