Middle school student returns to school after sharing his ‘kill list'

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from The Gazette article "Middle school boy who kept ‘kill list' returned to school" by Stacey M. Duck.

A Montgomery Village Middle School student returned to class on Feb 2 after being accused of making threats to kill two teachers and a student.

On Jan 20, a 12-year-old boy was charged with making the three aforementioned threats on school premises. His case was referred to juvenile court. Montgomery County police would not release the name of student charged.

Kate Harrison, Montgomery County Public spokeswoman, said that MCPS policy allows for a variety of punishments or consequences for death threats. According to Harrison, consequences can range from counseling to expulsion. Harrison would not specify which consequences would affect the student.

Harrison emphasized that the school system acts to help both the accused student and those who have been threatened.

Acting Community Superintendent Steve Bedford stated that violence in schools over the last few years has increased officials' awareness of threats, including the need to help counsel the students who make these threats.

In the last six years, school violence has received more and more media attention, including events such as the fatal shootings at Columbine High School in 1999 and the shootings at Ballou High School earlier in February.

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