First-grader accused of robbing classmate at knife point

PEMBROKE PINES - A knife-wielding 7-year-old first-grader robbed a 6-year-old classmate of one dollar, in a school bathroom, authorities said today. The schoolhouse stick-up happened Nov. 26 at Pines Lakes Elementary, 10300 Johnson St., district spokesman Keith Bromery said. The boys were in a bathroom when the older child held a kitchen knife to the other's nose and demanded his money.
The younger boy complied.

Police said the 7-year-old made off with $1. "This is by no means normal," Bromery said. "This is a very unusual occurrence to see kids that young acting out that way." The victim's nose started bleeding during the encounter, which has been classified as an armed robbery, schools police operations supervisor Craig Kowalski said. It is not yet clear whether the blade drew blood or if the victim suffered a nosebleed, Kowalski said. The victim's mother reported the incident to school officials Monday, when classes resumed after the holiday break, Bromery said.

The boy did not have any visible injuries at that time, school officials said. The 7-year-old likely brought the weapon from home, Bromery said. He is serving a 10-day suspension and will likely be expelled to an alternate school for children with discipline problems, Bromery said. This incident of children bringing weapons to school is the latest of several reported since a Dillard High School student fatally shot her classmate on Nov. 12. Both were 15-year-old girls. "We've seen an up-tick and I'm not sure what it's related to," Bromery said.
"Unfortunately, we're finding that a lot of these contraband and weapons are coming from people's homes. Usually, when kids bring contraband to school, it's for show and tell -- to show it to other kids. And when someone sees that and they don't feel comfortable, they report it."

School resource officers are interviewing the children to determine whether any charges are warranted, police spokesman Deputy Chief David Golt said.
Further details were not available, he said.

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