Who is Daniel Marquez's dad? Florida boy's father sobs, lawyer calls school threat 'fifth-grade' humor
CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA: Daniel Issac Marquez, a 10-year-old Florida boy was arrested Saturday, May 28, for threatening to pull off a mass shooting via text messages at Patriot Elementary School in Cape Coral, police said. On Tuesday, June 2, Daniel's father Dereck Marquez broke into tears while talking about his arrest. “At this point, I don’t feel comfortable saying anything because I don’t want to make a mistake,” the emotional father told The Post.
“I would appreciate not talking right now.” Marquez, 35, then mentioned hiring an attorney for his son before shutting down the brief interview with The Post. Marquez told Lee County deputies he was “expecting to meet with law enforcement” after being made aware of the text-message shooting threat allegedly sent by his son, according to an arrest report. Daniel's arrest made headlines especially since it was a threat to shoot up a school and also it followed the mass shooting by teenage gunman Salvador Ramos who went on an absolute carnage at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in Texas.
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In an interview with DailyMail, Daniel's lawyer, Douglas Molloy said, "It was an attempt at humor – but fifth-grade humor". "He made an unfortunate reference to assault rifles, but only in some joking way, not related to any kind of attack on a school," said Molloy defending his client. Molloy said the next conversation they had – which was 'a little removed in time' –was about how excited the boy was for the Water Day celebration at school. "He didn't directly say he was going to shoot up a school. It is drawing a conclusion. There's further conversation, back and forth about Water Day and the events. But nothing, absolutely nothing related to shooting it up or referencing the guns," the lawyer said.
Daniel was handcuffed at his home after the friend's father noticed the messages and alerted the cops. Molloy insists that Daniel used some stock photo he got somewhere. The friend's father called Daniel's dad and said: "I've got some concerns about this text, what does it mean?"
"Mr. Marquez was unfamiliar with them and said, "well this is just goofing around." So the other father let him know that he had contacted the sheriff's department," shared Molloy. Daniel was hauled off by sheriff’s deputies during a ‘perp walk’ shared online by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities also released the boy’s mugshot on Monday, May 31, while warning that "fake threats" result in "real consequences."
According to Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, Daniel had access to guns at his home in Cape Coral. “There were guns in his household,” Marceno said, adding they were legally owned by Daniel’s father. “I don’t know exactly how they’re stored, but understand, making that threat, there are firearms in the house, so that brings a whole different dynamic as well.” Marceno mentioned that he was unaware of the types of guns in Marquez's home, but Daniel had shared a Google image of four assault guns and said in a text message to “get ready for water day” — referencing a school-sponsored event in which students partake in water activities.
Marceno advised parents to look into their children's activities and talk to them about mass shootings. “I want the parents to help us,” Marceno said. “Sit their children down, talk to them. Talk to them about what they see on the news and tell them, ‘Look, we understand you can joke around, you’re a child, you’re 10, you’re 12, you’re 15, but a fake threat, a joke, is no longer a joke. It’s going to be a real consequence."
Daniel, who was charged with making a written threat to conduct a mass shooting, will remain in juvenile detention for 21 days. His family has hired an attorney ahead of a June 13 court date, Marceno said. Daniel has no indication of mental health issues according to his parents.
The sheriff said he has received countless calls since Daniel's arrest. “I’ve had countless calls and text messages from parents,” Marceno said. “First of all, number one, rightfully so, being very concerned. Being afraid of sending their child to school.” “They want law and order and they’re trusting in me and my family members that when they kiss their child goodbye in the morning, their child is in good hands and safe and going to return home,” Marceno added.
“I know some people get upset — it’s a 10-year-old, right? The last thing we want to do is put a 10-year-old in handcuffs. But absolutely, without hesitation, when a 10-year-old, 12-year-old, 18-year-old — when they press a trigger on a firearm, the results are the same. I have to take that threat [as] real," Marceno said.