Louisiana teacher threatens to shoot third-grader

Tuesday was a pivotal day at a charter school in Louisiana after one of the teachers was arrested for allegedly making threatening comments to students the week before, according to KTVE/KARD.

Earlier this month, a 14-year-old student named Colt Gray allegedly brought an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to Apalachee High School and began shooting. When the shooting ended, four people were dead and nine injured. The following people lost their lives:

Richard Aspinwall, a 39-year-old mathematics teacher at the school

Cristina Irimie, a 53-year-old mathematics teacher at the school

Mason Schermerhorn, a 14-year-old student at the school

Christian Angulo, a 14-year-old student at the school

The boy’s father, Colin Gray, was arrested after buying the gun for his son, despite admitting that the boy had problems and needed therapy. CNN has reported that there have been 46 school shootings in the United States this year. It is well known that children are not immune from hearing about these horrific shootings.

Fast forward to last week at Union Parish, a Downsville charter school, when a physical education teacher allegedly threatened to shoot some third-graders in one of his gym classes. He told sheriff’s officials that he felt “overwhelmed” at the time he made the comments.

Robert Mitcham, a 70-year-old teacher, was arrested on terrorism charges on Tuesday, September 10, and his bail was set at $15,000.

What did the teacher say to the students?

After interviewing the students, police officials said that Mitcham allegedly told the third-graders that he

had ammunition for his rifle and he would take it to the school and shoot… (adding that) some of the students would not survive. (He added there were)… too many of you to get rid of… (and) he only had six bullets in his rifle.

After an older student told a teacher about Mitcham’s statement, he apologized.

What happened after the threats?

In addition to the message the older student gave to a teacher at Downsville Community Charter School, a mother also called the school to say her child, like other students, was scared. Officials say their investigation is ongoing.

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