FORNEY, Texas — A North Forney High School student was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat in connection with an incident during class on Tuesday.
The investigation, seemingly closed on Tuesday, was re-opened after parents of students with firsthand accounts of the incident spoke up and told investigators a threat was made in connection with the discovery of a firearm, which was later determined to be a "toy" gun.
That toy gun was confiscated, along with the backpack it was inside, after a student reported to a teacher that the other student said he was going to "shoot kids."
Three individuals close to the investigation described the toy gun to inForney.com as an airsoft gun, which, at first sight, had the appearance of a real gun. Upon further examination, it was later determined to be a toy.
The Forney Independent School District said the student was immediately removed from campus and the district pursued disciplinary measures to the fullest extent in alignment with their student code of conduct.
Tuesday evening, however, no charges had been filed in the case by law enforcement as a school resource officer was reporting no threat had been made — this despite a written statement from a student with a firsthand account of the incident, whose mother spoke to inForney.com. She says her student's statement refuted those claims.
The district says the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office re-opened the case upon new information alleging a threat was reported to police.
The student, who was a minor and won't be identified, was arrested and charged with terroristic threat, a third-degree felony.
"We take all reports of threats very seriously, and immediately removed the student from campus on Tuesday," read, in part, a statement from the district.
"FISD asks students and parents to say something as soon as possible if they hear or see a message that would create concern," continued the district's statement. "We have a method to report through Anonymous Alerts on our website and mobile app. Students, parents, community, local law enforcement, and district staff form a powerful alliance in keeping everyone safe."
