Louisiana Teacher Arrested for Threatening to Shoot Third-Graders

A 70-year-old physical education teacher at Downsville Community Charter School in Union Parish, Louisiana, has been arrested following allegations that he threatened to shoot and kill his third-grade students, according to local authorities.

Robert Mitcham, a resident of Ruston, was taken into custody on September 17, two weeks after the alleged incident was reported. According to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office, a parent came forward, stating that Mitcham told his class he would bring a gun and bullets to school, adding that “some of the students would not survive.”

The parent said students in the class were frightened by Mitcham’s threats, especially given the heightened concerns surrounding school shootings. Mitcham reportedly told the students, “there were too many of y’all to get rid of,” and that he “only had six bullets in his gun,” according to witnesses.

The incident came to light when an older student informed another teacher about the threats. Mitcham reportedly apologized to the class afterward. He later explained to deputies that he was overwhelmed by the rowdiness of the students and was only trying to get them to settle down, insisting that he was not serious about the threats.

Parents expressed outrage during a meeting held by the school’s Board of Directors, questioning why Mitcham remained in the classroom for two weeks after the alleged threats before his arrest. Kimberly Chappell, one of the parents, said, “We’re just hoping to find out why it took them two weeks to get him off of campus. Why our kids had to come and be in a class with him for two more weeks after he had stated this to multiple students on multiple occasions.”

Parents also criticized the school for not communicating the incident sooner, with many learning about it through media reports. Tony Cain, the executive director of Downsville Community Charter School, responded to these concerns by describing the matter as a personnel issue and stating that the school was not legally permitted to comment publicly.

Cain also said the allegations circulating on social media and reported by the parent were not consistent with the first-hand accounts provided by students to school staff. He emphasized that the school felt confident in the accuracy of the students’ accounts.

Despite this, parents remained upset over the lack of communication regarding their children’s safety. Downsville Mayor Reggie Skains voiced his disappointment, saying, “The community’s not involved in the school anymore. Like they said, we don’t know anything about what’s going on up here.”

Mitcham has been charged with a single count of terrorizing and is being held at the Union Parish Detention Center on a $15,000 bond. A judge from the Third District Court has imposed a bond condition preventing Mitcham from returning to the school while the case is pending.

Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates urged parents, students, and teachers to report any potential threats, stating, “If you see something, say something.” The sheriff’s office also reminded the public that anonymous tips can be submitted through the Safe Schools Louisiana app or other local resources.