DELAND -- One of the teenagers accused of masterminding a Columbine-style murder plot at DeLand Middle School spoke publicly for the first time Tuesday.
Austin Moore, 13, admitted what he did was wrong, turning to the Internet as a cry for help, rather than turning to his parents. See previous story.
"Threatening other people and threatening to do very bad things to them is not the way to go," Moore said in a statement in court Tuesday. "Talk to somebody. Talk to your parents, talk to somebody you trust, but just don't try to take it into your own hands."
Sheriff's deputies arrested Moore after he posted his plans to lock the cafeteria doors and shoot everyone, Columbine-style. He was charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
The plan involved two other schoolmates, both of whom faced similar charges.
Moore said he was being bullied constantly by his classmates.
"[Someone] threatened to kill me, threatened to slit my throat with a razor blade. Yes, that has happened," said Moore.
The Volusia County School District said it prided itself on its anti-bullying program, but Moore said talking to school officials as dictated by the program failed.
"I complained to Mr. Watson, the vice principal of DeLand Middle School," Moore said. "He says he was going to do something about it, and nothing was done."
Moore said that lack of action led to his alleged actions on the Internet.
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