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Teen sends Florida spring break into chaos after pulling gun on beach: bodycam video

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Teen sends Florida spring break into chaos after pulling gun on beach: bodycam video

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A teenager pulled a gun during a fight on a packed Florida beach in the midst of spring break this week and then ran through the crowd with the weapon in his hand.

“He’s got a gun. He’s got a gun,” people shouted as they ran in different directions on New Smyrna Beach on Thursday. A deputy from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office quickly intervened and barked orders at the gunman. 

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“Drop the f—–g gun. Drop the f—–g gun,” the deputy screamed at the suspect, who is seen in bodycam footage running from the officer. 

The deputy chased him through New Smyrna Beach while still ordering him to drop the gun, as other law enforcement officers joined the foot pursuit and pushed back hordes of spring breakers. 

FLORIDA SPRING BREAK DRAWS MASSIVE CROWDS, BEACH BOXING MATCHES TO FORT LAUDERDALE

A teenager points a gun at spring breakers on a crowded beach in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)

The gunman – later identified as 16-year-old Felixander Solis-Guzman – ran into the water about knee-deep, where he stood for several minutes. 

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Bodycam footage shows law enforcement officers with their guns drawn, lined up along the beach. 

FORT LAUDERDALE BRACES FOR SPRING BREAK WITH FREE ROOFIE DRINK TESTS, DUI ALTERNATIVES

Guzman finally dropped the gun in the water, and officers closed around him, but the deputy yelled for them to back up in case he had another weapon. 

When backup arrived, and officers took cover behind open police car doors until the tense, five-minute standoff came to an end. 

The gunman takes off, still holding the weapon in his right hand, as he runs through crowds of people and into the shallow end of the water.  (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)

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Volusia Sheriff’s Office surrounded the suspect, who was about knee-deep in the water, where police said he allegedly tried to ditch the gun and 20 small plastic bags of marijuana.  (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)

Solis-Guzman complied with police officers’ orders and surrendered with his hands up. He was arrested without further incident.

Deputies found the gun and a bag with 20 small plastic baggies of marijuana, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

FLORIDA FLOODS SPRING BREAK HOT SPOTS WITH STATE TROOPERS IN ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ CRACKDOWN ‘ON MAYHEM’

Behind the police, bodycam footage caught a glimpse of the large crowd soaking in the sun in New Smyrna Beach, a coastal Florida city about 15 miles south of Daytona Beach, a popular spring break destination.

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The beach was crowded when the suspect brandished the gun. Officers constantly yelled to clear the beach and forced the bystanders back as they arrested the suspect.  (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)

Solis-Guzman was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a person under 18, improper exhibition of a firearm, commission of a second-degree felony with a weapon, resistant law enforcement, two counts of tampering with evidence and sale of marijuana. 

The teenager also had seven active no-bond warrants out of Orange County, including robbery with a firearm and violating his probation. 

WATCH FULL VIDEO OF CHASE AND STANDOFF

Spring Break ’24 is like no other

Spring break in general has always been a hot-button topic in Florida, especially in Miami Beach and South Florida, which have seared visitors in more than 70-degree heat over the last two weeks.

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Even before the annual bash began, officials in Miami Beach “broke up” with spring break, which the New York Post called a “bust” after week one because the crowds were virtually nonexistent. 

FLORIDA SPRING BREAK HAS FAMILY BEACH TOWNS BRACING FOR CROWDS AS MIAMI BEACH CRACKS DOWN

That’s exactly what the mayor and city police wanted when they imposed draconian guidelines following last year’s mayhem, when two people were fatally shot, and police made 500 arrests (including 230 felony arrests) and seized 105 guns. 

The party moved up the coast to Fort Lauderdale, which was busier than usual for the first weekend, but officials told Fox News Digital that it had been a “successful” first weekend.

Spring break party seekers took Fort Lauderdale’s welcome message as crowds flocked to the beach. (US Sun/Mega)

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Beach boxing with a “ref” and cheering fans was part of spring break’s first week of action.  (US Sun/Mega)

The real test starts this weekend, which also happens to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day, a popular party day.

“Our spring break crowds have been as expected so far this year, with this week being the busiest week we are anticipating,” Casey Liening, spokesperson for the Fort Lauderdale police, told Fox News Digital earlier this week. “We have not had any major issues or disturbances.”

The second and third weeks of March are historically the busiest spring break times and attract the largest crowds. 

A pair of spring breakers pose along the shoreline on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Large crowds are expected to descend on Fort Lauderdale throughout March, as Miami Beach enacts widespread restrictions cracking down on any unruly behavior. (AJ Skuy for Fox News Digital)

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Crowds enjoyed spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in March 2024. Harsher restrictions in Miami Beach have forced visitors further north in Florida for their holidays. (US Sun/Mega)

State’s ‘unprecedented’ pre-emptive strike

Gov. Ron DeSantis said last week that over 140 state troopers, along with various other state resources, had been dispatched to South Florida as part of an “unprecedented” pre-emptive strike against spring break crime. 

The plan is to send 60 state troopers to reinforce communities throughout South Florida, with a high concentration in Miami Beach, according to the governor. 

Sixty more state troopers will mobilize in additional hot spots like Daytona Beach and Panama City Beach, and 24 quick-response troopers will be deployed in Bay, Volusia, Broward and Miami-Dade counties for immediate incidents.

Spring Breakers participate in a game of football wrestling on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Large crowds are expected to descend on Fort Lauderdale throughout March, as Miami Beach enacts widespread restrictions cracking down on any unruly behavior. (AJ Skuy for Fox News Digital)

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“This is really unprecedented,” DeSantis said during a March 5 press conference. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen the state come in this forward-leaning going into a season like this.”

“With all things considered, I think that we’re good and prepared as we’ve ever been throughout my time in the state of Florida,” he said.

Fox News Digital’s Emmett Jones contributed to this report. 

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Southeast

High school teacher arrested in alleged sex case involving student

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High school teacher arrested in alleged sex case involving student

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A Georgia high school teacher was arrested Wednesday after allegations of inappropriate contact between a teacher and a minor student surfaced at Lee County High School.

Danielle Weaver, 29, of Leesburg, is charged with child molestation and improper sexual contact by an employee, agent or foster parent, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI).

Lee County High School requested the Leesburg Police Department investigate the allegations on Feb. 3, and the GBI was called to assist the following day.

Danielle Weaver, 29, of Leesburg, Ga., is charged with child molestation and improper sexual contact by an employee. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

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Investigators identified Weaver as the “subject,” and identified the victim as a student under 18 years old at Lee County High School, according to officials.

GBI agents continued the investigation along with the Leesburg Police Department, and arrest warrants were obtained for Weaver on Tuesday.

A Google Maps street view photo of Lee County High School in Leesburg, Ga. (Google Maps)

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Weaver turned herself in to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, and was later released on bond, according to a report from WALB News.

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This investigation is active and ongoing, according to the GBI.

The incident allegedly happened at a high school in Georgia. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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Once complete, the case file will be given to the Southwestern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Leesburg is located in South Georgia, and is about an hour and a half north of Tallahassee, Florida.

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Lee County High School’s communications team did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Federal court clears way for Ten Commandments to be displayed in Louisiana public school classrooms

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Federal court clears way for Ten Commandments to be displayed in Louisiana public school classrooms

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A federal appeals court cleared the way Friday for a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, lifting a lower court block and reigniting debate over religion in public education.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit voted 12-6 to lift a block first imposed in 2024, finding it was too early to determine the constitutionality of the law. Critics argue the requirement violates the separation of church and state, while supporters say the Ten Commandments are historical and foundational to U.S. law.

The court said in the majority opinion that it was unclear how schools would display the poster-sized materials, noting that the law allows additional content, like the Mayflower Compact or the Declaration of Independence, to appear alongside the Ten Commandments.

The majority wrote that there were not enough facts to “permit judicial judgment rather than speculation” when evaluating potential First Amendment concerns.

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A federal appeals court on Friday lifted a lower court block on Louisiana’s Ten Commandments classroom law, bringing the measure closer to taking effect. (John Bazemore/AP)

In a concurring opinion, Circuit Judge James Ho, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, wrote that the law was constitutional and “consistent with our founding traditions.”

“It is fully consistent with the Constitution, and what’s more, it reinforces our Founders’ firm belief that the children of America should be educated about the religious foundations and traditions of our country,” Ho said, adding that the law “affirms our Nation’s highest and most noble traditions.”

Circuit Judge James L. Dennis, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, wrote in a dissenting opinion that displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms would amount to “exposing children to government‑endorsed religion in a setting of compulsory attendance.”

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A federal appeals court ruling on Feb. 20 allows Louisiana’s Ten Commandments classroom mandate to proceed for now. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images)

“That is precisely the kind of establishment the Framers anticipated and sought to prevent,” he added.

The ACLU of Louisiana and other groups representing the plaintiffs said they would pursue additional legal challenges to block the law.

“Today’s ruling is extremely disappointing and would unnecessarily force Louisiana’s public school families into a game of constitutional whack-a-mole in every school district,” the groups wrote in a joint-statement. “Longstanding judicial precedent makes clear that our clients need not submit to the very harms they are seeking to prevent before taking legal action to protect their rights.”

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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry praised the appeals court decision on Feb. 20 allowing the Ten Commandments classroom law to move forward. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Friday praised the court’s decision, writing on Facebook, “Common sense is making a comeback!”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement following the ruling, saying schools “should follow the law.”

“Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial. My office has issued clear guidance to our public schools on how to comply with the law, and we have created multiple examples of posters demonstrating how it can be applied constitutionally,” she said.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said schools should follow the Ten Commandments display law after a federal appeals court lifted a lower court block on Feb. 20. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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Joseph Davis, an attorney representing Louisiana in the case, celebrated the court’s decision.

“If the ACLU had its way, every trace of religion would be scrubbed from the fabric of our public life,” he said in a statement. “That position is at odds with our nation’s traditions and our Constitution. We’re glad the Fifth Circuit has allowed Louisiana to display the Ten Commandments in its public school classrooms.”

Friday’s ruling came after the full court agreed to reconsider the case, months after a three-judge panel ruled the Louisiana law unconstitutional.

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A similar law in Arkansas faces a federal court challenge, while Texas implemented its own Ten Commandments classroom requirement last year.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Guy Fieri once had ‘nothing else to sign’ on the beach but postcards; now, he’s built a food TV empire

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Guy Fieri once had ‘nothing else to sign’ on the beach but postcards; now, he’s built a food TV empire

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Twenty years ago, a contestant named Guy Fieri on the second season of what was then “The Next Food Network Star” showed up at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival with little more than spiked hair and ambition.

“He came to that festival that year and was walking around signing postcards because he had nothing else to sign,” recalled Lee Brian Schrager, founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and its New York City counterpart.

Today, Fieri is one of the most recognizable faces in food on television. But, in 2006, he was just another up-and-comer working a crowd on the sand.

Speaking to “Fox & Friends” from Miami Beach, Florida, Friday morning, Fieri said he wasn’t chasing TV fame.

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“I was doing what I wanted to do,” he told Steve Doocy while walking the beach. “I wanted to be a great dad. I wanted to be a great husband. I wanted to be a chef. I wanted to own my own restaurant. So, I had accomplished the things I wanted in life and never really saw the other side of it.”

South Beach Wine & Food Festival founder Lee Brian Schrager and celebrity chef Guy Fieri pose for a photograph back in 2009. (South Beach Wine & Food Festival)

Two decades later, Fieri still comes back.

“He’s been part of our festival every year since he won ‘Food Network Star,’” Schrager told Fox News Digital.

The knack for spotting and elevating talent is part of the festival’s legacy as it marks its 25th year in Miami Beach.

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Schrager recalled a similar instinct with Giada De Laurentiis. When her agent suggested she might be ready the following year, Schrager pushed back.

“I said, ‘I don’t want her next year. I want her this year so she’ll remember where she got her big start,’” Schrager said.

Giada De Laurentiis, pictured here in 2015, was another celebrity chef who got her start at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. (Manny Hernandez/Getty Images)

Yet the festival doesn’t claim to have created celebrity chefs.

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“We don’t take responsibility for turning anyone into a superstar,” Schrager told Fox News Digital. “We do take some credit for giving them a platform and putting them in front of their fans.”

“Rock stars became chefs and chefs became rock stars.”

Over the past 20 years, the platform has grown alongside the broader transformation of food culture. 

“Rock stars became chefs and chefs became rock stars,” Schrager said.

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What began as a one-day wine event on the campus of Florida International University evolved after Schrager was tasked with reimagining it. His directive was to “make it better — not bigger, but better.”

Schrager had a solution.

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival is where chefs like Fieri “became rock stars,” said Schrager, founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.  (Jason Koerner/Getty Images)

“Move it to the beach, partner with the Food Network, get all their celebrities and make it more than just local,” Schrager said.

Today, the festival draws marquee names from the culinary world as well as from music and entertainment. Among those who showed up for Thursday night’s Burger Bash event were comedian Bert Kreischer and Cloud 23 hot sauce founder Brooklyn Peltz Beckham.

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Chefs don’t get paid for appearances at the festival.

“If it’s somebody new, the first question out of their agent’s mouth is, ‘Oh, what’s the honorarium? What’s the fee?’ I’m like, ‘Zero,’” Schrager said.

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham is among the celebrities to attend the food festival for free. (Scott Roth/Invision/AP)

The model works, Schrager said, because the festival operates as a nonprofit benefiting FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.

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“Everyone’s doing it to support the cause, or they’re doing it because they want to do it,” Schrager said. “It’s not a bad place to be in the middle of winter.”

Schrager, left, appears along with Rachael Ray and Brooklyn Peltz Beckham onstage at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash. (Scott Roth/Invision/AP)

The festival has raised more than $50 million for student scholarships.

“To me, that’s why we do it,” Schrager said.

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Along the way, the festival has outlasted many imitators and weathered shifting food trends by staying nimble.

“We listened to the consumers,” Schrager said. 

Fieri, left, and a shirtless Bert Kreischer share a moment onstage at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. (Jason Koerner/Getty Images)

“There was never any ego involved in this festival.”

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He added, “Our goal was never to be the biggest.”

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“It happens that we turned out to be the biggest, but being the best, or at least doing our best, has always been the most important to me.”

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