EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — An East St. Louis middle school teacher was arrested last week and is now facing a felony charge after he allegedly threatened to shoot students, according to court documents.
The Mason Clark Middle School science teacher, identified as Terry Moran, reportedly made the threats on May 9 while complaining about his students to another teacher.
"He stated ... that he 'ought to bring a gun to school and shoot them all in the name of God' referring to the students of Mason Clark Middle School while present on school grounds," the court documents said.
Moran was allegedly visibly angry while making the threat and was in a classroom while school was in session, according to the documents. However, Moran later told police that he does not own guns and had no guns at his residence. Moran also scored the lowest score possible on a police-issued release risk assessment.
He is facing one charge of a threat to a school building or person, a Class 4 criminal felony, for the alleged threats.
The East St. Louis School District released the following statement:
"The safety of our students and staff is our utmost priority. We take any threat seriously and in this situation, we responded promptly and comprehensively, working closely with law enforcement. Our commitment remains unwavering in ensuring a secure and supportive environment for all members of our school community."
5 On Your Side's Megan Kernan spoke to multiple parents, students, and even a crossing guard Wednesday afternoon, who were not aware of Moran's arrest. However, they did say there was an increased police presence at the school last Thursday and Friday. While they couldn't say for sure it was tied to this incident, they believe it was.
Court documents state Moran is prohibited from going to the middle school and must undergo a mental health evaluation.
5 On Your Side asked the district if Moran had been fired. They said they cannot comment directly on personnel issues. However, they say in this instance, they followed the district's established "policies and procedures."
Moran's preliminary court hearing is set for May 31 at 10 a.m.
The district confirmed the potential threat and said it was taking it seriously in a letter to the school community on May 10.
This is a developing story. This article will be updated with the latest information as it is released.
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