Bullied Fifth-Grader Arrested for Wishing for Gun

Eleven-year-old Brenton Peraita was arrested in the office of his elementary school last week after he told students he wished he had a gun to get rid of bullies who had been taunting him with antigay slurs.

According to Sacramento's Fox 40, Brenton Peraita of Yuba City, Calif., said the bullies had called him "Brentina," "homo," and "fag." He said the bullies have broken his glasses, and his father, Jose Peraita, said they have gone to the school to complain at least 50 times.

"His reward for standing up for himself and saying, 'I'm no longer going to be the victim,' was a ride to the police department and a mug shot," Jose told Fox 40.

Brenton was also fingerprinted and issued a citation.

"They're very young. Absolutely," said Shawna Pavey, spokeswoman for the Yuba City police department. "But the youth in this situation doesn't negate that the threat to shoot other children was made on school campus."

According to Jose Peraita, nothing has happened to the bullies. He says the problems have actually escalated since the incident.

But school officials at Riverbend Elementary say they've held assemblies on bullying and that the other three students involved were also issued citations.