A 13-year-old boy’s rap video showing him loading a gun and rapping about killing has landed him in handcuffs, sending shockwaves through Deltona Middle School in Florida. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dereck Fontan on September 15, 2025, after he sent the disturbing video to fellow students, sparking fear and prompting some to skip school. This marks the third student arrest in the county for school threats in just three days, raising alarm about a growing trend. In the video, Dereck is seen handling what appears to be a real handgun while rapping lyrics that reference taking a life.
The combination of violent imagery and words led authorities to treat it as a credible threat, even if the boy claimed it was meant as a creative expression. Sheriff Mike Chitwood, known for his tough stance on school threats, released body camera footage of the arrest, showing deputies taking the barefoot teen from his home to a juvenile detention center. The sheriff’s office also provided Dereck’s mother with firearm locks to secure guns in the household, emphasizing prevention. The incident has left the Deltona community on edge.
Parents and students are grappling with the fear caused by the video’s circulation, which led to a noticeable drop in school attendance. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is cracking down hard, with Sheriff Chitwood publicly stating that all threats, even those claimed as jokes, will face serious consequences. This approach follows two other arrests earlier that week: a 15-year-old at Deltona High School for a written gun threat and a 13-year-old at River Springs Middle School for a threatening drawing. The string of arrests points to deeper issues, including bullying and the influence of social media, which some students cited as factors in their actions.
The sheriff’s office has urged parents to monitor their children’s online activity and secure firearms at home. With four student arrests in Volusia County since the school year began, the community is calling for solutions to address this troubling pattern involving a Deltona student gun incident.
