As I piece together my son's view point, the newspaper article, and conversations with other parents this is what I think happened….
A young man, who was at the school for less than two months, brought a loaded gun, extra ammunition, marijuana, and as rumor has it a hit list and a rape list. He also stole a girl's iPhone at the dance (which was returned).
My understanding of the event was that several kids saw or suspected he had a gun however, no one wanted to be a “snitch”. He apparently even pointed the gun at a few girls. There seems to be two versions of what happened next…1. The girl he stole the iPhone from told the School Officer that he had stolen her phone and when he was questioned the boy admitted it and agreed to be searched and was arrested. And story 2. Two brave girls either saw or knew about the gun and told the School Officer who confronted the boy and he was searched and arrested without incident.
The bottom line for me in this scenario is: I am grateful that someone told an authority and the boy was arrested before he was able to cause whatever problems he had intended. My heart breaks though at the thought that several kids knew he had a gun and didn’t want to be considered a snitch. There is a vast difference in being a snitch or tattle tale for something that is none of your business and telling someone when your life or someone else’s life is in potential danger. As parents, it’s important that we teach our children that abuse, violence, guns, bullying, or threats ARE something to tell someone about.
I am asking everyone who reads this to please pray for the young man and his family as they face the consequences of his choices and behavior. I also pray that God will intervene in the boys desperate heart.
There is always HOPE!
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1