A teenage student at a Missouri school has been suspended after posting a “threatening” photo online of a set of Dr. Pepper soda cans shaped like a high-powered rifle.
Riley Grunden’s 13-year-old son was suspended for three days from Liberty High School in the small town of Mountain View after her son admitted to posting the controversial photo, which the school deemed a threat.
The teenager thought he was being artistic and creative as he stacked eight Dr. Pepper cans to look like an AK-47 rifle.
Grunden feels the school has overreacted to his post.
A teenage student at a Missouri school has been suspended after posting a “threatening” photo online of a set of Dr. Pepper soda cans shaped like a high-powered rifle.
Riley Grunden’s 13-year-old son, pictured, was suspended for three days from Liberty High School in the small town of Mountain View after her son admitted to posting the photo.
“Dr Pepper cans, is this a threat?” Grunden asked. KY3 after visiting the school to deal with the consequences.
“When I went to the main office I was there to defend my son because I feel like he didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “I’m very angry. I feel like kids can’t be kids anymore.”
But the school saw things differently and suspended the teenager from school for three days.
School officials told Grunden that her son had to turn himself in and report to the district’s central office after concerns arose about the post.
“I feel like he didn’t do anything wrong,” Grunden added. “There are people who post pictures of real firearms when they’re hunting or with their kids, they even post pictures of kids with real firearms. If that’s not a threat, how can Dr. Pepper cans that can’t do anything be?”
“I feel like he didn’t do anything wrong,” Grunden added, in the photo. “There are people who post pictures of real firearms when they go hunting. If that’s not a threat, how can Dr. Pepper cans be?”
The school suspended the 13-year-old boy for three days and will have the incident marked on his permanent record.
When the boy returned to class he was forced to be searched before being allowed back into the building.
The boy’s permanent school record will also be updated with a charge of “cyberbullying” and another of “making a school threat.”
Grunden believes her son should not have been punished and says she would understand better if her son had made a direct threat to the district, a school or another student.
“I would have a lot of problems not only at school but also at home,” he said.
The school posted a series of lengthy statements online about the boy’s antics.
“We have enough information to believe the video caused fear to at least one student, and understandably so,” Superintendent Lanna Tharp said.
‘We would like to inform you that we have been made aware of a rumour circulating on social media about a possible threat. Following a thorough investigation, we have found no credible evidence of any danger.
Grunden believes her son should not have been punished and notes that she would understand better if her son had made a direct threat to the district, a school or another student. The couple is pictured here in 2020.
The school posted a series of lengthy statements online about the boy’s antics.
The school went on to ask parents to stress the seriousness of the incident.
“Some social media posts can cause stress for our students, families and staff. Social media can also be disruptive to the learning environment,” the statement read.
The school went on to ask parents to stress the seriousness of the incident.
‘We ask that you talk to your child about the seriousness of making a threat or posting anything of a threatening nature (images of weapons, violent song lyrics, violent videos, etc.). Please help us emphasize to all students that making a threat against a public school or any student has serious legal and disciplinary consequences.
‘Posts of this nature are not funny or entertaining and will not be considered a joke or a form of entertainment. Even posts made outside of school hours that affect the education of our students or cause fear in them will be investigated.’
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