Willis ISD student arrested for alleged gun threat denies allegations and claims he never said he owned an AK-47

WILLIS, Texas (KTRK) — A 14-year-old Willis High School student who was arrested for allegedly saying he had a gun claims he never made the remark.

Kenji King Jr., a freshman football player at the school, said he was in disbelief when he was taken aside and handcuffed Wednesday.

“He said, 'Whatever you say, it's not going to change the outcome of you going to prison,'” King said.

King said he was on his way to football practice when his assistant principal came in with Montgomery County sheriff's deputies.

“Then he said, 'Someone said you made a threat against the school,' and I told him, 'What?'” King said.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said several students and staff members heard King yelling, “I have an AK-47 in my bag,” during class change.

King was charged with false alarm and said he spent the next 24 hours in jail.

“I didn’t do it and I have witnesses. I didn't do it because they say it happened in the hallway, and in the hallway it's after fifth period and I had my headphones on the whole time,” he said.

On Friday, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office told Eyewitness News that it is continuing its case against King, saying it does not believe there was any error about who said what.

Schools across the Houston area are cracking down on students who make threats.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said her office filed 22 cases in the first three and a half weeks of the school year, compared to seven last year.

Last week, two students were arrested in Willis for making threats. One for an online threat against three schools and another for a threatening comment in the hall.

As for King, his parents said they were told the freshman, whom they describe as a straight-A student, would be allowed to return to school on Tuesday. Willis ISD has not confirmed this despite inquiries from Eyewitness News.

“I wish they could give it up and let him continue to go to school. He’s scared, he’s traumatized,” Kenji King Sr. said.

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