A tense morning at Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary in North Memphis ended with a parent in handcuffs Thursday, after the vice principal reported that a man threatened to “shoot up” the school, according to police. Officers took the man into custody at the scene following what investigators described as an on-campus altercation. School officials did not immediately release a statement about the incident.
Police later identified the suspect as Keith Burton, a Memphis man who had come to the campus because of issues involving his child. According to Action News 5, officers say Burton and two children got into an argument that escalated when he allegedly poured water on one of the kids, then threatened to “shoot up” the campus.
The police report cited by Action News 5 states that Burton admitted both making the threat and pouring water on the child. He told officers he was angry because he believed his daughter was being bullied, the report says. Burton was booked on charges of assault and “threat of mass violence on school property,” according to the same report.
Caldwell-Guthrie serves students in North Memphis and is listed among the district’s elementary campuses, according to Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The school has also drawn attention in recent years for district plans to expand its programming, including efforts to transform it into a Pre-K-8 STEAM hub.
What the Charges Mean
Under Tennessee law, making a reckless threat of mass violence on school property is a specific crime and can be prosecuted as a felony. The statute lays out how “mass violence” is defined and requires that anyone who knows about such a threat report it both to law enforcement and to the school. The full text of the law and its reporting rules is available at Tenn. Code § 39-16-517.
Police told investigators that Burton said he was angry about the alleged bullying of his daughter and acknowledged making the threat, according to Action News 5. He remains in custody on the current charges; court dates and bond information were not immediately available.
