Two middle school students in Florida have been charged after causing about $50,000 in damage to a school’s media center, authorities said.
On Sunday, Sept. 14, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO) shared bodycam footage on Facebook showing the damage at Friendship Elementary School in Deltona, after deputies responded to a fire alarm overnight.
“Once on scene, they found a glass door had been shattered and the media center had been vandalized,” the sheriff’s office wrote along with the video.
The clip shows officers moving through the room, stepping around overturned tables and furniture, with items scattered across the floor.
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Police confirmed that the boys’ mothers had turned them in.
After posting images of two persons of interest, the sheriff’s office confirmed on Monday, Sept. 15, that they had identified the pair responsible for the damage.
The VSO said, “The subjects responsible for the vandalism of Friendship Elementary have been identified.”
PEOPLE is choosing not to name the boys or show their faces because they are minors.
The sheriff’s office added, “After the video posted, we received lots of emails identifying them (thank you all!), as well as contacts from each of the defendants’ mothers,” confirming that the boys’ moms had come forward.
“The boys confessed to the incident, which caused at least $50,000 in damage to the media center,” the post stated.
“They broke into the school during the daytime hours, then returned later in the evening to look at the damage and cause more,” officers said.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the two students had each been charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of trespassing on school grounds, criminal mischief, and theft.
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Friendship Elementary School released a statement saying, “We are thankful to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of this case to ensure the individuals responsible are held accountable.”
“Just like with threats, our campuses have zero tolerance for destruction of property and vandalism,” the statement continued.
“Despite the incident, our students, families, and staff have approached the week with positivity and camaraderie. VCS [Volusia County Schools] and Friendship Elementary also appreciate the outpouring of support from the community in response to this situation,” it concluded.
