Generic Sheriff
Deputies: School Security Officer Pawned Equipment, Carried Toy Gun to School
By Spectrum News Staff Hillsborough County
PUBLISHED 4:48 PM EST Dec. 06, 2019
TAMPA, Fla. — A school security officer with Hillsborough County Schools was arrested Friday after the Sheriff's Office said he pawned off his agency-issued gun.
Leroy King, 36, charged with providing false information
He worked at Mango Elementary School in Seffner
Sheriff Chronister "outraged" at incident
He was found carrying a toy pellet gun during an inspection at the school, according to a news release.
Leroy King, 36, worked at Mango Elementary School in Seffner. He was arrested Friday.
According to the Sheriff's Office, King also pawned his ballistic vest and a weapon mount light. The items were sold during different dates.
A school security supervisor discovered that King didn't have his gun during a recent unannounced inspection.
Angie Angers
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@angie_angers
The school security officer at Mango Elementary in Hillsborough County has been arrested for pawning his gun & ballistic vest. Instead, investigators say Leroy King, 36, carried around a toy pellet gun. He's now facing 8 felony charges @BN9
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King admitted to authorities that he pawned off the items because of financial difficulties.
He faces multiple felony charges of providing false information on a pawn broker form.
"As a parent, I am outraged to know that someone given such a monumental task of protecting our children would so carelessly sell the weapon he was provided with to fulfill that purpose," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We are fortunate that a catastrophic event did not happen during the time that Leroy King had sold his weapon, but it does not make his actions any less severe."
