Inset: David Scott Jr. (Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office). Background: The elementary school that Scott allegedly threatened to shoot up (Google Maps).
In Michigan, authorities have apprehended a 43-year-old man after he reportedly became “enraged” and made threats to attack his son’s elementary school because the child lacked sufficient time to eat his snack.
This week, David Scott Jr. was detained and now faces charges that include being a prohibited individual in possession of a firearm or ammunition, making threats to execute violence against a school, and engaging in obscene or disorderly behavior, as announced by officials.
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido emphasized in a statement after Scott’s arrest that “there is absolutely no justification for threatening violence against a school or its personnel—especially over something as trivial as a classroom snack. Our office takes all school threats seriously and will continue to press charges to ensure the safety of students, educators, and our community.”
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office reported that around 3:30 p.m., Scott arrived at Pleasantview Elementary School and “became upset that his child did not receive a snack during snack time.”
The release noted, “He confronted the child’s teacher, issued threats, and stated he would return the next day.”
As a result of his conduct, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Scott’s residence, where they reportedly discovered several rounds of ammunition, which Scott is legally forbidden to possess.
Eastpointe Police Lt. Alex Holish provided additional details about the incident to Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ.
“There was an enraged parent who was upset about the fact that his first grader did not have sufficient time for snack time and this parent decided to make threats against the school,” he said.
Investigators said that Scott was “screaming, cursing, and threatening” his son’s teacher in front of the school’s staff, the young students, and the other parents who were on campus picking up their children. During his purported tirade, Scott allegedly repeated several times that when he returned the next day he was going to “air the place out,” which police said is a slang phrase that means shooting up a location or building.
But the boy’s mother defended Scott, telling WXYZ that while he may have overreacted, her son had been coming home from school hungry for several weeks.
“His dad, of course, because it’s been ongoing got upset,” the mother, Tykeissia Watkins told the station. “I really think that it was blown completely out of proportion.”
She also said she did not believe that Scott really threatened to shoot up the school.
In a statement, the school said Scott’s behavior was “unacceptable.”
“Eastpointe Community Schools takes all threats to our schools, our students, and our staff incredibly seriously, and we will not tolerate this kind of behavior at our schools,” the statement said.
A judge set Scott’s bond at $150,000 cash or surety, meaning he cannot post 10% of the total. The judge also ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation. Should he post bond, Scott must wear a GPS tracking device and not leave the state, consume alcohol, or have contact with the school, employees or complaining witnesses.
