The mother of an elementary school student is facing charges after reportedly bringing a loaded gun to the campus, in addition to allegedly threatening an LGBTQ+ teacher.
On April 9, an incident at Valley Mills Elementary School in Indianapolis occurred, beginning with a student’s mom walking in and withdrawing her daughter’s enrollment. According to reports, her daughter’s now-former teacher gave students an assignment about flags and referenced a rainbow flag with the words “Be Kind” that was hanging in the classroom. The girl’s mom was reportedly furious about the situation, and when the teacher found out, she said the child did not have to participate. She was still unsatisfied, so she decided to homeschool her daughter for the remainder of the year.
When the woman was in the office, she reportedly became so aggressive that the staff used a silent panic alert system to alert the authorities that they needed help. Officers from the Decatur Township School Police Department showed up to assist, and they reported that they noticed something under the mother’s shirt that made them think she could be carrying a weapon. When they asked her about it, the woman reportedly said she regularly carries her handgun and forgot she had it with her. The officers unloaded the firearm and let her leave the campus.
Within 30 minutes of the mom driving away, the teacher reported that she received messages on Facebook Messenger and believed the woman had sent them. She said the sender called her a child predator and accused her of trying to force LGBTQ+ ideals on the students, and made statements causing her to believe her life could be at risk.
When the police learned about the messages, the suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Marion County Jail. She is facing preliminary charges for one level 6 felony count of possession of a firearm on school property and one class B misdemeanor count of harassment. She was released later that evening, after posting a $500 bond. If she is convicted of the charges, she could spend over three years in jail, in addition to paying fines up to $11,000.
The district reported that the woman cannot return to the school.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.