Secret Service investigates 7th grader

[Stevicat]

R.I. School Essay Brings in Secret Service
Feb 02 2:34 PM US/Eastern

WEST WARWICK, R.I.


The Secret Service is investigating a seventh-grader who wrote a school essay that authorities say advocated violence against President Bush, talk show host Oprah Winfrey and others.

The boy's homework assignment for English class was to write what he would do on a perfect day. In addition to the president and Winfrey, the boy wrote that violence should be directed at executives of Coca- Cola and Wal-Mart, police and school officials said.

"His perfect day would be to see the destruction of these people," Schools Superintendent David Raiche said.

The Secret Service investigation is ongoing, but the essay may have been a "cry for help," said Thomas M. Powers, resident agent in charge in Providence. Threatening the president is a felony, he said.

Authorities would not identify the boy or his teacher or release a copy of the essay. He was not arrested, police Detective Sgt. Fernando Araujo said.

"It wasn't any detailed, minute-by-minute plan," Araujo said. "It didn't meet the criteria for a criminal charge."

The boy has been temporarily barred from school, but as a mental health rather than disciplinary precaution, Raiche said.

[SonomaCat]

It's kind of amazing what rises to the level of "national news" these days, isn't it?

[ChiOCat]

Must have news, 24/7.

[Hell's Bells]

yeah sounds like this kid should be seeing a shrink or be placed in a mental hospital

[SonomaCat]

yeah sounds like this kid should be seeing a shrink or be placed in a mental hospital

Or maybe he thought he was being funny. If elevated to this degree everytime a kid in my very small school did something dumb like this, our entire school would have been in straightjackets.

[Hell's Bells]

yeah sounds like this kid should be seeing a shrink or be placed in a mental hospital

Or maybe he thought he was being funny. If elevated to this degree everytime a kid in my very small school did something dumb like this, our entire school would have been in straightjackets.

so what you are saying is that every kid has a killing spree fanticy that they act out in homework?

[grizbeer]

Why would he pick Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart executives, President Bush and Oprah? Seems like pretty wierd targets for a 7th grader, makes you wonder if his mom is a college professor or professional protestor. I wonder why Haliburton, Exxon, Cattle ranchers, plant genetic scientists and other uni-bomber approved targets weren't on his list.

[BWahlberg]

We need to wiretap everyclass room in America.







- Sarcasm intended.

[Hell's Bells]

We need to wiretap everyclass room in America.







- Sarcasm intended.

we can start with BH's office in missoula