K.Battlezone
10-20-2007, 10:59 AM
A 10-year-old Brooks-Quinn-Jones Elementary School student was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats after bringing a toy gun to school Wednesday and allegedly making threats against someone on campus, according to Nacogdoches ISD Police Chief Doug Ploch.
Although the gun was fake and shot plastic pellets, it is against the law to threaten people, Ploch said.
Following the arrest, the student attended a detention hearing Wednesday afternoon.
"The student was detained and transported to the detention center in Marshall," Ploch said. "Making terroristic threats is a class A misdemeanor."
Rachel Johnson, BQJ principal, said the incident was reported to teachers by other students.
"There was no immediate danger, and the student was removed from the classroom immediately," Johnson said. "Safety is our No. 1 concern, and the situation was quickly handled."
Letters were not sent home with students Wednesday afternoon because school administrators did not have the full details surrounding the incident, Johnson said.
"We are sending letters home with students today (Thursday) explaining that the student verbally threatened to do harm to other students and/or staff," Johnson said. "A counselor also spoke with the students who were in that class (where the incident occurred). Our faculty and staff do an excellent job ensuring that our students are safe."
Johnson said she encourages all parents to "review expectations with students for acceptable behavior."
This marks the second incident in Nacogdoches County this school year when a gun was brought on school property.
Last week, a 9-year-old Central Heights student took a loaded gun on a school bus.
Criminal charges were not filed because the student was younger than 10 years old.
The student will spend one year in the district alternative education program.
Although the gun was fake and shot plastic pellets, it is against the law to threaten people, Ploch said.
Following the arrest, the student attended a detention hearing Wednesday afternoon.
"The student was detained and transported to the detention center in Marshall," Ploch said. "Making terroristic threats is a class A misdemeanor."
Rachel Johnson, BQJ principal, said the incident was reported to teachers by other students.
"There was no immediate danger, and the student was removed from the classroom immediately," Johnson said. "Safety is our No. 1 concern, and the situation was quickly handled."
Letters were not sent home with students Wednesday afternoon because school administrators did not have the full details surrounding the incident, Johnson said.
"We are sending letters home with students today (Thursday) explaining that the student verbally threatened to do harm to other students and/or staff," Johnson said. "A counselor also spoke with the students who were in that class (where the incident occurred). Our faculty and staff do an excellent job ensuring that our students are safe."
Johnson said she encourages all parents to "review expectations with students for acceptable behavior."
This marks the second incident in Nacogdoches County this school year when a gun was brought on school property.
Last week, a 9-year-old Central Heights student took a loaded gun on a school bus.
Criminal charges were not filed because the student was younger than 10 years old.
The student will spend one year in the district alternative education program.