A Louisiana gym teacher threatened to shoot his third-grade class, warning students that some “would not survive” — though he didn’t have enough bullets for all of them, according to police.
Robert Mitcham, 70, was arrested last week and charged with terrorizing after allegedly telling the youngsters that he “had bullets for his gun and he would bring it to the school and shoot,” and that “some of the students would not survive,” the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.
“It was additionally learned that Mitcham allegedly further told the students that there was ‘too many of y’all to get rid of,’ and he ‘only had six bullets in his gun,’” the sheriff’s office said.
According to the release, Mitcham told deputies after the Sept. 10 incident that he “felt overwhelmed and just wanted the children to settle down,” and maintained he wasn’t threatening them.
Mitcham was arrested two days after the threats and was ordered held on a $15,000 bond — and barred from returning to Downsville Community Charter School while the case is pending.
Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates said the incident is a reminder to parents to report any worrisome or suspicious incidents to police or school officials.
“DCCS has two school resource officers on campus every day,” Gates said in a statement. “Please utilize these officers to discuss any concerns, especially those of planned acts of violence.”
Downsville principal Tony Cain declined to discuss the incident when reached by KTCT-TV News.
“However, we do want to make it clear that the allegations by the parent reporting to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office and those in social media are NOT consistent with the first-hand accounts provided to school staff from the students who actually witnessed the incident,” Cain told the outlet.
“We feel confident that the students were truthful and accurate with their accounting of the incident.”