Girl Could Face Charges for Using Toddler Knife at Lunch

She brought it to school to cut a peach, share with a friend
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 17, 2016 4:05 PM CST
Updated Nov 18, 2016 12:30 AM CST
Girl, 11, Suspended for Bringing Toddler Knife to School
A fearsome toddler knife.   (Newser)

An 11-year-old honor student has been suspended for six days for bringing a knife to her Florida middle school—a child's butter knife, which she used at lunchtime to cut a peach, Local 10 reports. "This is a set of a spoon, fork, and knife for toddlers—one year old," says Andrea Souto, the girl's mom. "It is made for children to learn how to eat properly. She's used it since she was baby." Her father says she was cutting the peach so that she could share it with a friend when someone saw the knife.

A spokesperson for Broward County school district wouldn't discuss specifics, but said, "The school followed district policy regarding this incident and continues to work with the student and parents involved. It is the district's priority to maintain safe and secure campuses for students and staff at all times." The school district says the girl violated the county's weapon policy, and a resulting Pembroke Pines Police Department investigation has been turned over to the State Attorney's Office. It's not clear whether prosecutors are considering criminal charges, but the family's attorney says it's "tragic" such a thing is even a possibility when the girl was using "a child-proof utensil that could never be construed in any form as a weapon." (More Florida stories.)

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