A gym teacher in Louisiana was arrested after he allegedly threatened to shoot third-grade students.
Robert Mitcham, 70, was accused of telling the children that he “had bullets for his gun and he would bring it to the school and shoot,” while noting that “some of the students would not survive,” KJCT reported.
A parent contacted the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office and claimed the Downsville Community Charter School teacher made the threats after becoming angry.
The parent told authorities that their child was scared, as were their classmates.
Investigators learned that Mitcham allegedly also told the students that there were “too many of y’all to get rid of,” and he “only had six bullets in his gun,” according to the outlet.
Witnesses told authorities that an older student informed them what allegedly happened to another teacher, prompting Mitcham to apologize to the students.
Deputies said Mitcham said he felt overwhelmed and wanted the children to settle down, but denied threatening them.
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The teacher faces one count of terrorizing.
A judge set his bond was set at $15,000 with the condition that Mitcham be banned from the school pending the outcome of the case.
Tony Cain, the school’s principal, could not comment on the incident but did tell the outlet that they “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 added: “We feel confident that the students were truthful and accurate with their accounting of the incident.”