Background: Valley Mills Elementary School in Decatur Township, Ind. (WTHR/YouTube). Inset: Rainbow flag (Shutterstock).
In Indiana, a mother is accused of carrying a gun to her daughter’s former school where the daughter was a sixth grader. The mother intended to confront a teacher regarding the curriculum being taught.
Carrie Rivers, aged 48, allegedly sent a Facebook message to the teacher post her arrest, stating, “Your a child predator [SIC],” as reported by local NBC affiliate WTHR.
Reportedly, the Indianapolis mother claimed that the teacher had given her daughter an assignment that she disapproved of. The controversial topic covered same-sex relationships and marriages. In contrast, the teacher clarified that the assignment was actually about flags. A rainbow LGBTQ flag, bearing the message “be kind,” was displayed alongside flags from various countries.
Rivers allegedly withdrew her daughter from Valley Mills Elementary School in Decatur Township on April 9 and called to complain. Afterward, the teacher told Rivers’ daughter that she didn’t need to complete the assignment. But Rivers decided to show up at the school anyway with her gun to talk to them, according to police.
Court documents obtained by WTHR detail how she was taken into custody after police saw she was carrying a gun openly holstered on her waist, and was released from jail that same day, which is when she also allegedly began messaging the teacher on Facebook, who happens to be married to a police officer.
“Your only hope is your b**** a** wife [SIC] that is a cop,” Rivers allegedly said. “Otherwise someone else woulda already delt with u for ur wrongs. U messed with the wrong family. I’ll tell you that so please say ur prayers and kiss ur kids goodbye and goodnight u never know when god says its our time so always be prepared.”
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In another message, Rivers allegedly said: “Sick, nasty teacher, you should never tell precious innocent kids that it’s okay to be in a same sex relationship.”
The Decatur Township school district released a statement in response to the gun incident and what was said, saying no students or staff were in danger.
“The police suspected that the parent had possession of a concealed handgun on her person and escorted her out of the building,” the statement said, according to WTHR. “At that point, they took possession of the weapon from the parent without incident outside the school. The parent stated that she forgot to remove the handgun before arriving on school property.”
Rivers was charged with possession of a firearm on school property and harassment after the incident. Her first court hearing is scheduled for April 15.
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