OT Violent teen threats WWYD?

[beachgrl001]

Well Im pretty sure we did the right thing. Here's what happened:

My DS(13) told me that a friend of his was with a kid from our neighborhood and this kid said to my sons friend "I hate (so and so) so much he makes me want to shoot him or shoot up the school" then shoot myself!!!

Now my son was not there when this was said (his friend told him that this boy said this. Ofcourse we were very upset all weekend, today my husband called the VP at school and he said they would handle it.
So did we do the right thing? I just feel like this kid needs to know that you cant go around saying things like that I dont care wether he was kidding or not. This kid has been having trouble making friends since he moved here. he teases little girls, hits other kids and has a hard time getting along with the other kids. I just hope we helped and it dosent set him off or make my ds a target now...

 

[MiniGirl]

You most certainly did the right thing. I agree that all these comments need to be taken seriously and that this boy needs to know these are not the kinds of things we make jokes about.

If he had said this at an airport and about an airplane, he would've been hauled off in handcuffs.

And is he wasn't joking or is really truly disturbed, well........ I hope he gets the help he needs.

 

[minkydog]

You did the right thing. I wonder how many kids at Columbine HS wish they had said something when those boys started saying similar things. I hope the school takes it seriously.

 

[Mkrop]

at DS's school aboy threaten to bring a gun to school bc he was mad he wasnt nominated for student council. He said it was just a joke but the school called the police and the boys parents. He was suspended for awhile and then had to had visit with counselors. Kids do need to learn that you can just say stuff like that anymore.

 

[stacy6552]

Of course you did the right thing. I would follow up with your son making sure that he stays away from that kid.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'd bet that this kid said what he did out of frustration, but you did the right thing. It is hard to tell the intent and these days we all have to censor ourselves or risk severe consequences. I remember my mother getting mad at me when I was a kid and yelling that she was going to kill me. Of course she never did and she didn't mean it like that at all...I just had worked her nerves and she was venting verbally. Now they would probably lock her up for that.

 

[Aliceacc]

I agree that he was probably just venting, but that's a chance you simply cannot take. You did the right thing.

One of the girls in my 9th grade homeroom wrote a piece for our Literary magazine. I almost had a heart attack when I read it-- it was about a girl being abused, how the bruises didn't show, how mom was an alcoholic and dad was in rehab. Then I looked at her personal info, and dad lives out of state. You had better BELIEVE I spoke to her guidance counselor about it. It turns out that she made the whole thing up. But I would never have lived with myself if I had chosen not to follow through!

 

[JoiseyMom]

Yes, you did the right thing. The schools have procedures to handle this. The child will get some sort of counseling to deal with why he said this. Even if this child was just talking, he obviously has other issues and will now get help for them!! You did a good thing!