Police in Winter Haven, Florida, are investigating the circumstances that led an 11-year-old boy to bring a butcher knife to school inside his Scooby-Doo bookbinder.

The knife was noticed by the fifth grader's classmates at Inwood Elementary School because the eight-inch knife was too large for the binder and was reportedly sticking out.

According to his family, the boy was being targeted by bullies for "gay tendencies," and was seeking to defend himself.

Both police and the school district are challenging the family's claim that administrators knew about the bullying problem but did nothing.

"Right now there is nothing on file with the school that she has been told of of any bullying. But there will be more interviews done to find out," Capt. David Brannan told ABC Action News.

An investigation is also ongoing into whether the boy made any direct threats, but the school insists no student was ever in danger.

[screengrab via ABC Action News]