Narrowsburg student suspended for threat of gun use

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG — A Sullivan West at Narrowsburg student is suspended indefinitely because it was alleged he threatened to bring a gun into the school during a pep rally and shoot people.

School superintendent Michael Johndrow said the student is being evaluated by a psychiatrist.

The incident happened on Thursday, January 4 prior to a pep rally for the boys’ basketball team, scheduled for the following day in the school gymnasium. The school closed early because of snow, and the rally was held the following Friday, January 12. The school asked the NY state police to act as a presence during the rally.

“There was no incident, so we left,” said Trooper Tom Meyer.

Rumors around Narrowsburg said that the high schooler, talked about placing a bomb in the school.

“There is no substance whatever to that,” Johndrow said.

“We are handling this in house, as we do any disciplinary problem,” Johndrow said. “It should not be blown out of proportion.” He stated the school is taking the incident very seriously because of recent outbreaks of violence in schools nationwide. “But you have to apply common sense here,” he said.

The student’s mother, Susan Pierce, who has retained Monticello lawyer Henri Shawn to protest the district’s decision to suspend the student and order a psychiatric evaluation, had no comment.