CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Chester County sheriff's deputies charged a 13-year-old student with school threats after a drawing was found last month that deputies called inappropriate.
The Chester County School District did not report the drawing to law enforcement, but the child's teacher reported it through a relative.
[SLED agents to investigate response to threat at Chester Co. middle school]
Channel 9 learned the child was investigated earlier this school year.
In an incident report from September, the child was accused of making a hit list.
Deputies who investigated that case said they could never find that alleged list and there wasn't enough evidence to file charges at the time.
A month later, the teen was charged following the discovery of the drawing.
Parents said he's still in class.
One woman, who didn't want to be identified, said that's a big concern for her.
"I think the child, if he did something wrong, he needs help,” she said. “He doesn't need to be in school.”
In a letter to parents, the school superintendent said the child's drawing wasn't reported by the school because they didn't believe it was threatening.
School officials said the drawings were of scenes depicting stick figures from video games the student plays.
School officials spoke to the student, the teacher and others. Then, after confirming that there was no threat, they handled the matter internally, the letter said.
However, the student was later charged after a family member of the teacher, who's in law enforcement elsewhere, reached out to the Sheriff's Office.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the district's response to the incident.
Chester County School officials said they welcome the investigation and are cooperating fully.
The district would not confirm that the child is still in school at Lewisville Middle School or give details on the status of the teacher who reported the incident.
However, that teacher's job appears to be listed on the district's website under current openings.
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