An Orange County Elementary School teacher has resigned and is now facing charges over allegations she “made threats to shoot up the school.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s office said in a release Tuesday that Kristen Thompson resigned her position at Pathways Elementary School last Friday.

“Other teachers disclosed Ms. Thompson made threats to shoot up the school,” according to the sheriff’s office.

A subsequent investigation led to a felony charge of communicating a threat of mass violence being brought against Thompson.

She was taken into custody by a member of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, according to the release.

“This situation is being handled by law enforcement with the safety of our students and school staff as our utmost concern,” Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in the release. “Meanwhile, this situation is also being dealt with by school leadership as a personnel issue as well as a safety one.  As such, the principal and other administrators are strictly forbidden by law from sharing information about the case. A threat of school violence is understandably unsettling for the community. Please know that the school and law enforcement are working together as a team to ensure the last few weeks of the school year are safe and productive for our students.”

Thompson was given a $1,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court next month, according to law enforcement.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at (919) 245-2900.

Photo via Orange County Sheriff’s Office

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