Local teacher arrested for threatening to shoot third-graders

UNION PARISH, Louisiana (KNOE) – The Union Parish Sheriff's Office has arrested a Downsville Community Charter School teacher accused of threatening to shoot third-graders.

The UPSO said a parent contacted them on Tuesday, September 10, claiming that 70-year-old Robert Mitcham threatened students after becoming angry. The parent said Mitcham told students he had ammunition for his gun and would bring them to school and shoot, allegedly adding that “some of the students would not survive.”

The parents told UPSO that their child was scared and so were the other children in the class.

UPSO officers worked with the bureau's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to investigate the incident. Investigators said they learned that Mitcham also allegedly told students there were “too many of you to get rid of” and that he “only had six bullets in his gun.”

Witnesses told investigators that Mitcham apologized to students after an older student told another teacher what had allegedly happened.

CID officers said Mitcham told them he was feeling overwhelmed and wanted the children to calm down, and that he was not threatening them.

On September 12, Mitcham was arrested and booked into the Union Parish Detention Center on a charge of terroristic assault. His bail was set at $15,000.

A Third District Court judge set a bail condition prohibiting Mitcham from returning to the DCCS campus pending the outcome of the case.

UPSO Sheriff Dusty Gates said he wanted to remind parents, students and teachers: “If you see something, say something.”

“DCCS has two school resource officers on campus each day,” UPSO said in a Facebook post. “Please utilize these officers to discuss any concerns, especially those regarding planned acts of violence. Additionally, anonymous tips can be submitted online through the Safe Schools Louisiana app or website, the UPSO app, or through Crime Stoppers of Union Parish.”

Tony Cain, principal of Downsville Community Charter School, issued the following statement:

“Downsville Community Charter School is not permitted to comment publicly on the specifics of this situation. However, we want to make it clear that the allegations made by parents who reported the incident to the Union Parish Sheriff's Office and the allegations expressed on social media do NOT match the statements made by students who actually witnessed the incident and which were provided firsthand to school staff. We are confident that the students have provided a truthful and accurate account of the incident.”

KNOE will continue to follow the development of this story.

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