Teacher leaves gun threat to class on blackboard

The message, written on Friday to a group sophomores and juniors taking a personal finance class at Edison Junior-Senior High School in Lake Station, Ind., read:

"Period 6: (only)

(a) You are idiots!!!

(b) The guns are loaded!!!

(c) Care to try me?????"

The teacher was told to leave the school Friday morning, Lake Station Supt. Dan DeHaven told the station.

"He had been absent two days prior, and he was reacting to some comments that were made by the substitute teacher," DeHaven said.

The 28-year veteran teacher, who is the son-in-law of a school board member, won't be back in school Tuesday or Wednesday, and his future at the school is uncertain pending an investigation, DeHaven said.

Leaving the message may be a felony, police tell WBBM.

The message came to the school's attention after a student snapped a cell phone picture of it and posted it to Facebook, DeHaven said.

District leaders took the apparent threat seriously and immediately ordered the business teacher off school property.

"We're not saying in fact that there is a threat. That's what we're determining by interviewing the students, the staff," police chief Kevin Garber stressed.

A district-wide phone call went out to parents Monday, three days after the incident, saying in part, "Your student was never in danger" and "The staff member is currently not in school."

But one parent interviewed by WBBM said it was too little, too late.

"He could have had (a gun) with him," said the parent, who asked not to be identified. "It could have been in his suitcase it could have been in his car. It could have been on him."

The feelings of frustration spilled over at a packed community meeting held Monday night at City Hall.

"My daughter is scared to go to class," one parent said.