TRUSSVILLE, AL (ABC 33/40)~ Parents in Trussville are speaking out in frustration following a recent student threat.
According to Superintendent Pattie Neill, the incident began last year (2021) when school officials at Hewitt Trussville High School found a book with a list inside.
The list, written by a student, contained 37 student names that said child was allegedly trying to harm.
When reading the book it was determined by Principal Timothy Salem that the “death notebook” was created based on a Netflix show “Death Note.”
In the show the main character finds a book with 'special powers'. If someone’s name is written in it while the writer imagines that person’s face, he or she will die.
That incident was never reported by Principal Salem to law enforcement, the Board of Education, or parents.
On September 19, 2022 , that same student was involved in another threat. This time telling another student he would shoot him with a 'bow and arrow.'
When law enforcement inquired about the student, Principal Salem gave the book to authorities.
Based on Alabama code 16-1-24.1,
The principal shall notify appropriate law enforcement officials when any person violates local board of education policies concerning drugs, alcohol, weapons, physical harm to a person, or threatened physical harm to a person.
Parents and the Trussville Police Department believe the Principal should have immediately made all parties aware of the disturbing book.
“We’re fed up with the lack of transparency and this time the lack of transparency has came at the expense of our children.” said parent Jessie Odell.
Dr. Neill says her and the Board were not made aware of this situation until it was brought to them last week by law enforcement.
After discussions with law enforcement and the principal, she says the book was not applicable in Alabama Code 16-1-24.1.
"The verbal threat that came out last week was about a bow and arrow and about shooting up the school. And the principal held that for 10 minutes and took it straight to the SRO. He followed protocol for the possibility of bodily harm to student and went straight to the SRO. The fantasy notebook didn't line up the same way," said Dr. Neill.
Trussville Police recently completed an investigation and presented their case under “making terrorist threats” to the county prosecutor’s office.
They did not meet the burden of proof to secure a warrant to pursue charges against the student.