According to authorities in North Carolina, an elementary school teacher has been arrested on suspicion of threatening to commit violence at the Hillsborough school where she taught before resigning on Friday.
According to the News & Observer, Kristen Michelle Thompson is accused of making “threats to shoot up the school,” as described in a news release by a source at the Orange County school district.
“Once school administration was made aware about an alleged threat by Kristen Thompson, law enforcement was contacted immediately,” said Seth Stephens.
Teachers at the Pathways Elementary School reportedly told investigators from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office that they heard the suspect make the threats.
“This situation is being handled by law enforcement with the safety of our students and school staff as our utmost concern,” Sheriff Charles Blackwood said. “Meanwhile, this situation is also being dealt with by school leadership as a personnel issue as well as a safety one.”
Thompson is set to appear in court next month and police say the investigation remains ongoing. She is expected to face a criminal charge of communicating a threat of mass violence.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact investigators by calling 919-245-2900.
[Featured image: Kristen Michelle Thompson, Orange County Sheriff’s Office]
