I know of this student and the situation. What people may not know is there may be an underlying medical issue in this situation. Trying to get an illness under control is not an easy job for parents or the doctors. I know that the parents are wonderful people and are doing their utmost to help their child.
Find out more information about the situation before it does balloon out of control. When children do not understand, their parents will not understand. Educate yourself about children with disabililties so that you can understand. It could be your child that loses control one day and then will your community stand with you or against you.

Roxie Spell

Public school is NOT equipped to deal with nor handle a child such as this. Encourage the parents to place their child in an appropriate place where he can get the help he seriously needs. Something bad will eventually happen if this child stays where he is. It's a red herring, plain and simple. What if he actually does what he said he would do? Who will be blamed? The other children and those who work there are at risk if he stays. Who, in their right mind, doesn't understand this?

kids weak. absolute no threat

You wouldn't say it was 'over-reacting' if it happened and your child was hurt or killed. Stuff like this happens in our schools these days. When people live with blinders on, bad stuff will happen. The child does NOT belong in a pubic school with these kinds of 'medical issues' ... period. If that kid does not get the 'help' he needs now, it will only get worse as he gets older.

If he has medical issues they need be dealt with by someone...but for now he can snap at any moment and nothing will be done until someone is killed, which shouldn't be the case. This student was in my class at one point years ago and threatened the teacher the same way. So obviously he hasn't changed.

Whatever his "underlying issue" may be, he should not be allowed to set foot in that school!! He made a very dangerous THREAT which obviously needs to be taken more seriously. Hey Pasco County school board....Warning Signs....ever hear of them??!!

If it was my child who got hurt or killed? I sit next to him in class, today he was completely fine just like he is if you just leave him alone. Maybe if kids didn't make fun of him 24/7 and give him a hard time none of this would have happened. He's absolutely harmless. I'm pretty sure my 11 year old brother could defend himself against the kid. Once again pure example of dumb articles that are bias and blow things out of proportion. Everyone just wants their fame, and kids who quote they're scared, that's a joke, This is the most un intimidating child in the world. looks like he's 5, and people say that looks can mean nothing, but if you look at this kid, you just know he's no threat. He's Never even handled a gun. Its all stupid

There is danger in every avenue we travel. There has been shootings in malls, in McDonalds, in just about every public place you can think of. Do these partents and teens that are fearful still allow or choose to go to these places on free will? I am sure at every visit to Walmart you could find someone in the store that would "threaten" to shoot everyone. And we all still walk into Walmart or Publix with no fear. Just because school is run by our Government, this turns into an issue we want someone else to fix. Complain about all the crazies in Walmart...you don't because no one will listen. Public school is called "public" for the reason all walks will be attending. If you prefer, move your child to a "private" school of your choice and maybe you will be able to loose the fear. Parents! it is our turn to teach our children that everyone is different,and the school, his parents and other students are now aware he has issues, maybe this troubled child could use support and help from other students. And maybe a lesson in "words will never hurt me" are in order.

So we let it go and when he kills people then we'll do something.yeah that will solve the problem.

No one has used the phrase "let it go" and for sure the blinders are off! I am sure the school is using all the precautions that are available. The parents are involved and are taking him for treatment with Drs. and the best eyes out there yet are the other students. Those are the things that will help solve the problem. Only hope you never have children that require additional help one day. It is not something a parent chooses either. Your phrase "when he kills people", shows the level of the problem.

Wow, I did not realize I had opened this can of worms, I do apologize for downplaying the incident, it is very serious thing. I understand the parents fear and the kids fears. This is unbearable for any parent on both sides of this issue.
It has not been "let go" Ms. Downing. The issue in on going and I am assured the student is being watched very closely.
Teen Mom, you are very understanding. Support and help go along way, I know some of the kids are and some are not. Teasing is not the way to make people of any age comfortable or feel liked.
But as I said, I apologize to those who are afraid for their kids, if I did not know this student, I would be scared too.

Everyone keeps saying this boy is no threat.hes to small to do anything it doesn't take a big person to wield a gun.

And yes I do have a child who requires additional help and I give him outlets for his confusion and anger.

I am a very good friend of this student. He is a good kid! He was having a bad day and was just over stressed! GIVE HIM A BREAK! Everyone has a bad day, I mean, COME ON! GEEZ! I'm sure all of you people may had a bad day and thought or said "I want to kill them" or "I want to kill everyone here" etc. You get what I'm saying?

And also, I talked to the student myself! Several of the comments and "witness reports" are not completely true! A psychology teacher at this school named Mr.Walker has stated to his class that "Eye witness testimonies cannot be trusted, they are influenced by thier emotions"

Yes I get where your coming from and I'm not dealt worried about this one case his parents are getting him help but what about the ones who don't care or cant help their child then what happens?

Real

i'm in that calss, too. the teacher grabbed paper out of his hand and he got anrgy.what about what she did? we were all asked to write up a report and told what to say. it seemed like the teacher set him up. he's agood kid who said bad things. dakota misquoted him.

I know this kid and im one of the few that do. I was in this class with him and only about two other students really know him. People don't seem to understand that he has medical issues and CAN NOT help that. People just want to make a big deal out of nothing just for some attention. Taking this to a serious matter is like popping a balloon. No one cares to take the time and think about anything and just act. He's a special student and can't help who he is. If one of the other special students said something like this, it would be ignored and blow over. For one thing Eva was not in the class when the event happened, she doesn't even have that class with us. This threat is like having someone you will never see in your life saying the same thing. Life is opinionated and eveyone is blind to the truth, they only see what they choose. Get over a small thing that has no point, and focus on something that has one.

illness or not,treatment or not? this child now represents a threat to others. regardless of the reason one reacts the results are the same..a time bomb

You people know he can get on here and see everything your writing about him? Everyone has bad days and River Ridge is full of stuck up preppy kids who think they are better then everyone else and tease the kids who arent rich or dont dress in high name brand clothes.Stop the bullying and maybe this poor kid wouldnt of had that thought across his mind. As for the kids who are so "scared" of him maybe if you be nice and befriend him you'd realize what a great kid he actually is!!!!

Pasco County has never cared, when I went to RRHS a student actually brought a gun on campus + he was back at school the next day....Administrators are not allowed to control the kids so why do the kids care, they know they will not get in trouble....Gotta love our public schools just as much as New Port Roxy....its funny that almost all of these Pasco County students don't know how to write a proper paragraph or spell words correctly before they post their comments....LOL :)

Welcome to the real world people of what is acceptable and not acceptable in public school! There is no tolerance for things like this anymore in school do to the fact that these kinds of actions have resulted in shootings in schools all acrossed America. Yes, every child is intitled to an education, but, there are limitations on what should and should not be tolerated. The class had to be removed while the child reacted! Obviously there was a concern that they were removed. Yes, he may have had a bad day. Yes, he may have an issue or a medical condition. Yes, the blinders may be off now and have peoples attention. Threatening to kill an entire class is grounds for immediate suspension and he should not be allowed to return. Pasco County Schools may God help you if this kid "has another bad day" with a gun at school. Also, I completely understand that all walks of life are in this world walking around and you never know what a person may do while you are in society. The differnece here is that the threat was made verbally which is grounds enough in a public school to denie him the right to attend. Medical condition or not!

Interesting comments from everyone. The one that sticks out is from John Doe. It reflects BULLYING of this student. I am from NZ/Australia, I was bullied, my son was bullied and made fun of. Push someone to their limits and when they react you are all shocked. Obviously his parents are doing the right thing and getting the student some help. I say this to the students who taunt, make fun of him etc. DON'T DO IT, YOU WOULD NOT LIKE IT HAPPENING TO YOU. I am now 62 years young and I still see too much of this going on everywhere. You taunt and make fun of someone long enough, THEY WILL REACT.
Jackie

As a district employee,I took a loaded gun from a student many of you would describe as "weak". There is no "typical" description for us to identify what another person is capable of doing. Height,weight,stature and strength have nothing to do with this. The mental and emotional state the person is in dictates their actions.
In my opinion,it always best to err on the side of caution.
To the sudents,"give this kid some space,leave him alone". Teachers and staff,be very alert to his actions and emotions ".

Teen mom.......you are right, there are problems with shootings in malls, restaurants, etc. The difference though is that those people just pull out a gun and start shooting, they don't give any kind of a warning ahead of time. If they did they would be arrested for making such a threat.....not "oh, we are just going to watch the situation closely and see what happens"!

Ummm.....I can honestly say that when I am having a bad day I do not say that "I want to kill someone or everyone here"!! Also, by the way, he did not say it in that context, he made a threat to shoot the teacher, administrator, and the rest of the class. People don't just go around saying that kind of stuff because they are having a bad day or told to do their work.

Any student who bullies others when in school should be sent directly to the principal's office, his/her/their parents called and a meeting be set up immediately, which would include the principle, the assistant principal, any teachers concerned, the bully(ies), his/her/their parents, the bullied child/ren and his/her/their parents, plus the school counselor and/or psychologist and a member of the Board of Education. The problems should be addressed then and there and all should come to the solution before anyone is allowed out of that meeting. School counselors can recommend medical or mental evaluations and parents should be made to comply with those recommendations or else their child cannot return to school until done so. Checks and balances; maturity and responsibility; give and take; do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Learn and live the Golden Rule for a change.

This child should be expelled immediately! If he hurts someone, I hope every board member will be sued individually for being afraid to act appropriately. As a New York teacher, something like this would never be tolerated. I guess that's one of the reasons Florida ranks so low in their academic ratings...those who are supposed to educate and protect their students, merely sit and do nothing and enjoy the 'elite' status of being a board member. It is often the quiet child who explodes and does damage....read the recent newspaper articles attesting to this.

for the NEW YORK TEACHER, Before you self proclaimed know it all showed up we had a good school system down here so go home and congradulate yourself on how great you have it! We don't want you great life you had. If it's so great why did you dother to come down here in the first place?
As to the issue with the student from my humble view maybe he should be out of the main loop till his condition is better under control. Too bad he couldn't smack down a bully or two then they would leave him alone. Worked for me back in the 60s. but thats what we get for letting those damned yankees tell us how things should work.
Bigest reason our school system is in the shape it is we waste too much $ on trying to teach those damned yankees to be civilized people and don't support our teachers like we should.

I agree with you, Jennifer. I am sure this isn't the first incident this child has had in school.

You are all idiots.

Don't sit here and say he deserves to be out of school. You don't know him. Don't say the class didn't give him a hard time, the entire school does, teachers do, students do, and his family does. They always have, for years, I've known him since 6th grade, we're in 11th now. He's been one of my best friends for a couple years now. I understand there should be punishment for him saying what he did. And he got the punishment. He got the 10 days, and they threw him in mental care for a couple of days. If you actually knew him you would know he would never do what he said. And the student interveiwed in this report, Dakota, he's not scared, thats a big fat lie. He goes around trying to sound cool for being on the news about this. He's just trying to get him in more trouble. But honestly, if he did mean what he said, he has more than enough good reasons for wanting some people dead. He's a perfectly normal kid, he's one of the smartest people you would ever meet, he knows what hes doing in the class, does he always do his work? No, but half of you 'parents' commenting on this, trust me, your kids arn't doing their work. I asked Dakota what did he ever do to you? His response was that hes annoying. He isn't. he goes to school, talks to his friends, learn, does work, and draws.

Yet everyone gives him absolute hell for doing what he likes, and thats drawing. Apperantley that makes you annoying. I draw, I know 100 other people that draw, how are we any different? Sure hes 'weird' because he likes things the typical teen doesn't, so? He doesn't have to be your clone. He's a nice kid, he would never even hurt a fly. Bullying does do this to people, don't say its mental bullshit, cause its not. This isn't because the teacher took away his drawing, its because he was tired of the teacher always taking away his stuff. The week before this happened, he just recently got a PSP from another friend of his, excited about it, he'd play it in class, he got it tooken away from him because kids who'd ,even though told a million times not to, use their phones all class every class every day, said it was bullshit he wasn't getting in trouble. And people, teachers, kept giving him hell, taking his things, just drawing. Theres not a single thing wrong with that, its HIS life, HIS grades, if he doesn't want to do the work thats HIS desicion. Yet HE's the one getting in trouble but not everyone else whos actually doing something wrong. Its fine for him to still be in school, any student who says they're scared of him are ignorant. He's not going to do a single thing. And theres no point in trying to cover all of this up, with the privacy laws, since everyone knows since alot of teachers are telling their students when they know they shouldn't.

Then if he doesn't do his work and doesn't like being teated like that then he should drop out. he16 or 17? he can and maybe he sould. this is negative attention and if he wants to go to college he will not beable to because of the negative records.

Brendon,

Thank you for your comments, but profanity violates our terms of use policy. If you would like to share your opinions, please do so with the appropriate language.

BRENDON! YOU ARE A HERO! I need to find you at school and shake your hand good sir! BTW I am the one who gave him the psp

@Jennifer, The Times reports that they've investigated the situation with law enforcement and determined the school is safe but that they can't explain the situation due to laws about confidentiality. http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/in-pasco-river-ridge-high-school-parents-riled-over-students-threat/1225864

@Brandon, tell you friend he will persevere. I am an ESE teacher in Pasco County & I see how difficult it is for the students who are different. If drawing is his niche, he needs to use it to his advantage & focus on this as a career, but he needs to get through high school. That diploma will matter more than he thinks & there are scholarships out there for talented kids. I wish you and your friends the best. @the public who are posting, remember there are 2 sides to every story. Kids could be cruel and relentless.

ESE or not, medical condition or not, bad day, good day, you don't threaten to to kill anyone. If I threatened someone you'd bet your bottom I'd be arrested. You just don't do it. There is definitely something wrong with this child and it needs to be taken very seriously. You can sweep it under the rug and hope nothing happens. That's just idiotic. He needs lots of help and it needs to start at home. He should not be allowed back in school, EVER. This needs to be dealt with. The world is hard. People are cruel, deal with it. But again, he should not be in school. Ten days is not enough time for "therapy". Parents need to stand up and make a point. Take your kids out of school, bombard the school board and the superintendent with phone calls, emails, etc. It's our duty to make sure he is removed permanently and that our children are safe. Bottom line.