Eventually, Dalco let his classmates go and put the guns down. Dalco apologized and said he needed help, said Mary Ross Agosta, spokeswoman for Archdiocese of Miami. Dalco was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, armed kidnapping and aggravated assault. He told police that he did not want to hurt anyone and that he only wanted respect and to stop being picked on, according to the arrest report. The Archdiocese of Miami has a plan for responding to emergency situations that covers all 64 of its schools in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties, said Agosta.
Teachers receive training on how to respond in crisis situations.
Two students at Columbine High School in Littleton terrorized the school in April with guns and bombs, killing 12 students and a teacher before taking their own lives. Schwartz said there were no known problems with the boy and he didn't believe that anyone in the class was being targeted. Agosta said the boy was known to be a loner and had been seeing the school counselor on his own. She did not elaborate. About 25 parents picked up their children from school and took them home early, Agosta said.