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Rebekah Jones: 13-year-old son of DeSantis' covid stats whistleblower arrested over school shooting memes

Just one week after submitting her lawsuit against Florida, Rebekah Jones claimed on Twitter that the memes had been recorded and reported

MIAMI, FLORIDA: A school shooting threat led to the arrest of the 13-year-old son of a Florida "whistleblower" who claimed that Governor Ron DeSantis' office faked Covid-19 numbers during the outbreak. Rebekah Jones announced the arrest on Twitter on Tuesday night, alleging that DeSantis himself ordered it and that it was carried out by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.

Jones claimed that her son was detained as a result of memes he had posted in a private group chat that made fun of school shootings, including one that ridiculed slothful security guards and another that suggested being enticed to steal a security guard's weapons. However, a police report made public by the Sheriff's office on Thursday, April 6 revealed that Florida "whistleblower" had downplayed the seriousness of the charges her son is facing and that there was more to the arrest than memes.

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What did Rebekah Jones' son do?

Cops claim Jones' son had repeatedly expressed his desire to shoot and knife pupils at Holley Navarre Middle School. He had even specified a date for his intended spree in several of his sayings. The young man was accused of "making written or electronic threats" that he was preparing for a "mass shooting [or] terrorist act." According to the Miami Herald, he was put under home detention on Thursday after dismissing his desire to commit a shooting. 

'I might shoot up a building full of people'

The arrest happens three weeks after she filed a whistleblower complaint against the Florida Health Department, seeking that she be reinstated and get compensation and other penalties. In 2020, she was sacked from the Department for insubordination after releasing data that the state said was fabricated. According to the Pensacola News Journal, Jones claimed that someone who joined her son's group chat and claimed to be a classmate's relative later reported the memes and photographs her son posted to the police. According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, the photographs include a Snapchat of a man sipping a box of Hi-C with the caption, "I'm feeling so silly I might shoot up a building full of people." The identity of the man in the picture is unknown, but he does not seem to be Jones' son. 

'Reach for officer's gun'

Another had an animated brain with the words "Reach for officer's gun" written in a thought bubble and the phrase "Me every time I see school security." The caption for a third meme, which featured an obese man dozing off in a chair, said, "Cops in their car waiting for the school shooter to kill himself so they can go in."

What did Jones say?

Just one week after submitting her lawsuit against Florida, Jones claimed on Twitter that the memes had been recorded and reported. "A week after we filed our lawsuit against the state, a kid claiming to be the cousin of one of my son's classmates joined their snapchat group," she noted. "They recorded their conversations, and anonymously reported my son to police for sharing a popular internet meme." She claimed the cops would not let her autistic son carry his medication with him when he was arrested. 

'If I get a gun I'm gonna shoot up hnms lol'

The police report states that warnings concerning Jones' son were raised prior to the start of an investigation against him, according to Pensacola News Journal. As per the complaint, Jones' son allegedly said things like "I want to shoot up the school" and "If I get a gun I'm gonna shoot up hnms lol" vocally and via text message. Holley Navarre Middle School is likely what HNMS stood for. Other messages reportedly read "I'm getting a wrath and natural selection shirt so maybe but I don't think many ppl know what the columbine shooters look like."

According to a note in the report, "Okay so it's been like 3-4 weeks since I got on my new antidepressants and they aren't working but they're suppose to by now so I have no hope in getting better so why not kill the losers at school." According to reports, the child said he had planned to carry out his shooting before spring break but had delayed it until March 31, as per Daily Mail.

'This is the reality of living in DeSantis' Florida'

Jones has claimed that the arrest was an attempt to suppress her in retaliation for bringing a lawsuit against the government. "It's been three weeks since we filed our lawsuit against the state. Last night, they arrested my son for non- threatening snapchat memes. The officer said it was the state's call," she claimed. "My family is not safe. My son has been taken on the gov's orders, and I've had to send my husband and daughter out of state for their safety. THIS is the reality of living in DeSantis' Florida. There is no freedom here. Only retaliatory rule by a fascist who wishes to be king."

'Just Memes?'

Meanwhile, the internet has quickly reacted. A user tweeted, "Log off lady, get some help and most importantly your kid help." Another user said, "Why don’t you give your attention to your kids instead of the Governor. Maybe then your son wouldn’t be so troubled." Another person mentioned, "You’re actually gaslighting right now. Stop lying. Your son threaten to shoot up a school." One person claimed, "She is a compulsive liar. Her son threatened to murder kids at his school, and she's trying to blame DeSantis." "Just Memes????? He said multiple times multiple ways that his intentions were harming his classmates...Quit Lying!!!!!" remarked one user.

'He is home now, sleeping'

Some took Jones' side with a user tweeting, "This whole saga is wild considering how harsh they went on your son compared to that teacher who got shot by a student was ignored up until the incident." When one person asked, "Is that enough to get him released?" the mother replied, "He is home now, sleeping." "Florida woman!" remarked one person.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.