Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Lafourche Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Matthews announced detectives have charged a middle school student with Terrorizing, and three other students were charged with assault due to direct threats to other students on Thursday.
As previously reported, a 12-year-old male student at Larose-Cut Off Middle School made a statement about bringing a weapon to school on Wednesday, February 21. During the initial investigation, detectives found the student was not in possession of any firearms, nor did he have access to any. He was initially admitted to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. As the investigation continued, detectives developed probable cause and obtained a warrant for the charge of Terrorizing. The child was released from his evaluation on Friday afternoon, and he was placed at the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility in Thibodaux.
On Thursday, February 22, school administrators at Raceland Middle School learned that a 15-year-old male student planned to shoot and kill a female student. A school resource officer questioned the student who confirmed a plan to retrieve a firearm from his home and kill the girl. He was charged with Simple Assault and placed at the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility in Thibodaux. While the female victim was riding the bus home that afternoon, a 13-year-old male student confronted her about the incident. During the confrontation, the boy allegedly threatened her, as well as a second girl. The 13-year-old boy was charged with two counts of Simple Assault. He was released to his mother’s custody and suspended from school.
Also on Thursday, a 10-year-old student at Bayou Blue Elementary School allegedly threatened a female student with bodily harm. Following an investigation by a school resource officer, the juvenile was charged with Simple Assault and released to parental custody. He also faced disciplinary action from the school.
LPSO deputies and Lockport Police officers also responded to Lockport Middle School Friday morning after receiving a report of suspicious subjects on the school campus. No suspicious subjects were found on the campus. Deputies learned the report arose from a misunderstanding during a conversation a teacher was having with students.
Sheriff Craig Webre said, “I am imploring parents to talk with their children over the weekend. Please make them understand the serious nature of threatening students, making comments or social media posts about threats or weapons, or even joking about such things. The students charged this week are facing serious charges with serious consequences. We are already beginning internal review of how we can better address this issue with students, but the education has to start in the home.”