Parents getting edgy after second Thibodaux High arrest

A second Thibodaux High School student faces potential criminal charges in connection with an alleged plot to kill fellow students, Lafourche Parish officials confirmed.

However, authorities are adamant that there is not a lockdown at the school and that classes are continuing as normal. There have been no acts of violence.

Word of an arrest came Wednesday morning, as parents and students reeled from word of a student taken into custody Tuesday, who allegedly admitted to investigators that he had a “kill list” containing names of students and staff.

Some parents were particularly incensed after hearing from their children that the first youth was questioned last autumn in connection with disturbing words, with no apparent action being taken, and that students were aware of his list prior to that.

The latest student arrested will likely face a charge of terrorizing.

The first student faces potential charges of terrorizing and criminal assault.

The Times is aware of their identities but is withholding them pending confirmation of criminal charges.

“Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned another 17-year-old male student allegedly planned to assist the other in killing students on the list.,” a statement issued by Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre states.

Detectives, Webre said, made contact with the second student and questioned him.

“He admitted to knowing about the other student’s plan and agreeing to assist him,” Webre said.

The student brought in for questioning Tuesday — the first student — is described as a socially awkward teen who lives in the Chackbay area, by other students as well as parents who are familiar with him.

The teen’s Facebook page contains no inflammatory material but discloses that he enjoys fishing. He also is a fan of anime, a Japanese cartoon form popular with young people.

Fellow students said that most of their peers avoid him, and that he tends to eat lunch by himself.

According to interviews conducted Tuesday night, a group of students was approached by the first individual in or around October, as they were engaged in a discussion with a teacher and a student teacher.

The teen pulled at least two other yougnsters aside and showed them a note, which he stated was a class project which said “What Is Love” at the top.

“He wrote a paragraph explaining that he thought love was a made up concept and he was just going to focus on getting stronger and getting his revenge on people who wronged him,” a student recalled. One of the teachers, who overheard the conversation, notified an assistant principal who brought the youth to the main office, retaining the note.

The “kill list,” students said, was talked about prior to this incident.

The incident was not reported to police, so far as officials at the school are aware.

LPSO personnel said they were not aware of any police involvement concerning this youth until Tuesday.

When questioned by detectives Tuesday the youth said that he had a list at one time but that he didn’t have it anymore, and that the list was in his head.

Lafourche schools spokesman Floyd Benoit said that incidents such as the one referenced to October are dealt with in accordance with the student conduct manual. The manual states when police should be called, which is usually in cases where there are more specific threats, such as the ones determined Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tensions have been particularly high, police and educators acknowledge in conversations, since the mass school shooting that occurred in Florida on Valentine’s Day.

That incident has resulted in a heated national debate over assault rifles.

In statements made to police Tuesday, the first student said that he had planned to bring a shotgun to school.

LPSO

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