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Student arrested after threatening to 'shoot up the school' in Rhome

Days after the deadly school shooting in Santa Fe, students and parents at Chisolm Trail Middle School in Rhome were rattled by a threat. An 8th grade student was arrested after bringing photographs of guns to school, an AR-15 rifle and a shotgun.

RHOME, Texas -- Days after the deadly school shooting in Santa Fe, students and parents at Chisolm Trail Middle School in Rhome were rattled by a threat.

An eighth-grade student was arrested after bringing photographs of guns to school, an AR-15 rifle and a shotgun.

"The student reportedly said, 'This is what I'll use to shoot up the school,'" said Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin.

Akin said multiple students and teachers heard the threat, and a school resource officer at the middle school quickly took action.

"The student was eventually talked to, and he said that it was just a joke," said Akin.

The student did not have weapons, and authorities do not believe he was a danger. Still, he was arrested and charged in the juvenile system. Akin says that they have come to expect an increase in threats after a large school shooting, and this school year alone in Wise County, his department has arrested six students in five schools for making false threats.

"You can't go to a school anymore and make comments or jokes about bringing a weapon to school," said Akin. "It just won't be tolerated."

A Northwest ISD spokesperson said letters were distributed to parents yesterday about the threat. They stressed that no weapons were brought to campus, and students were safe at all times, but they also reminded parents about an anonymous tip line and encouraged anyone who sees something to step forward.

Still, some parents have had enough. Stories about the Rhome threat sparked comment after comment on Facebook from parents who say they are considering pulling their children out of public school and homeschooling them instead.

At The Center for Home Education in Watauga, they say more parents are actually taking that step. After shootings in Parkland and Santa Fe and threats at other schools, they have seen an uptick in interest.

"We've definitely had an increase in calls," said Jeffrey Chadwick, a teacher at the center.

The center has been serving families for more than a decade, offering workshops and materials for parents who are navigating the homeschool process. They also offer classes at their facility. There are many different ways to homeschool, but they say all of them require work and commitment on the part of parents.

"They need to understand what the requirements are of the state," said Chadwick.

He said while all families have their own reasons for choosing homeschooling, many who come the center are now expressing concern for their children's safety at public schools.

"You're probably going to get that every time," said Chadwick. "The will mention safety."

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