What chya gonna do when a gun comes to school? Could have, Would have, Should have

I really do not think that I was the only teacher during the 1997-1998 school year to believe that a kid would bring a gun to school.  But in my district, then, it sure seemed like it. 1996 to 1998 were not quiet years in schools when it came to gun violence, especially in “unexpected” school districts. I was cognizant of behavior patterns and access to weapons. And I knew we were not some special immune district. I did work with humans after all.

I may have been unique in questioning administration though, well at least in my district. My book does detail the responses from parents and teachers. The parents wrote letters, so did certain staff. The correspondence is telling. What I wrote about teachers’ insight would be, at least in a court of law, considered hearsay at least in Newport News, Va. But, after my workshop request addressed to particular staff, no one could fain ignorance. They could all have been called on in a trial to speak for themselves. I listed them in my legal endeavor.

In almost every incidence of violence in a school setting (not only gun violence), one will hear naive statements, and often, “the safety and well being of the students is the top priority” right after the damage had been done.

If a trial is held, defense lawyers outright lie, using terms like unprecedented, unthinkable, unpredictable, “who would ever think a young child would bring a gun?”. Then you hear could, would and should. The lawyer in the recent dismissed trial of the VP liked "could and should", except when it came to his client. Her defense lawyer in the civil trial, which the VP lost, used “unthinkable" and unpredictable.

What is unthinkable and unpredictable after a students tells you? 

So, in this blog post, I have listed 12 videos or news stories that discuss what happens after a kid brings a gun to school.  Don’t let the naive and stupid; administrators trying to save face; or a lawyer offering bs lines to protect (the people who did nothing or failed to be proactive) get away with ignorant statements. Be proactive. If you need examples, share these videos or this post.

It is almost summer, with school heading to seasonal breaks. You should have time to review. The oldest link is 18 years old. They are not in any order but all are related to children under 12 years old. These are American schools but violence in a school is not unique to America. 

Remember, you could be the one with a needed puzzle piece. What would you do to prevent a violent attack in your school? After the fact, the law will be made clear to you about what should have been done.

In almost of these scenarios, children warned the staff who took actiin. Those children must have held more clout then the children under VP, EP  in the now infamous elementary school in Newport News, Va.

New gun laws also would not help. Gun laws were broken in these scenarios. 

https://youtu.be/Ce2dQk6TplQ?si=Fzf0N40Vvvuea-fs

 https://youtu.be/svOk6Dthky0?si=i8uNWVt0dJLFl31

https://youtu.be/gx2nTgSkbsc?si=_-b9Y4-RjPiJJfgZ

https://youtu.be/gx2nTgSkbsc?si=9fEt44Gw_KPhutth

https://youtu.be/HxmEpZfkXFo?si=i8U_PYRoKqgi7xt9

https://youtu.be/dSAma5OSD5M?si=V6vTdYJGzmNVehn5

https://youtu.be/ddmupe5Z4rM?si=rgAXWFCPZjpwUzTz

https://youtube.com/shorts/CPLTg916LUU?si=ACHhth8Xj08ahu22

https://youtu.be/lOGJO3ojK2k?si=Mh5KwuaPX3Wyx1jO

https://youtu.be/9uzDvOlTakM?si=TRxBN3vDXe8ybi9f

https://youtube.com/shorts/KvslMqFiA4o?si=lUsN7AYQ95b_yqF4

https://youtu.be/6tZ_J3RE3yw?si=usRaFN1mieXF-SZE

https://youtu.be/2816d_jT_w8?si=hL5wyfTOYx3w4UAs

Marian R. Carlino

May 26, 2026

What about JT? A 6 year old who shot his teacher

 Who is JT and What about him?

Just like CN in my former classroom, JT is a young child for whom a school district had concerns about his behaviors since he was in kindergarten. Unlike, CN in my former class, in 1998, JT pulled off trying to kill his teacher on January 6, 2023. He succeeded in leaving a bullet permanently lodged close to the heart of his first grade teacher after pulling the trigger in front of his classmates (in a classroom with no solid walls. The school had safe rooms in times of emergencies.)

My classroom could have been the scene of a similar event but it was not. My story is in detail in my book. The circumstances are still timely since two trials were recently held regarding the actions of JT. JT’s teachers faced very serious circumstances in reporting and dealing with their violent student. I could connect dots. The law could also in JT’s life. The teacher won a civil case, asking for a $40 million dollar award in the fall of 2025 and was awarded a civil judgement of $10 million per a jury decision. The State of Virginia jailed the mother and she lost custody. The State of Virginia thought a criminal case was warranted. A grand jury was convened and a trial was scheduled. The Grand Jury Report from 2024 outlines a lot of information.

The Grand Jury report did not indict the 6 year old. He was too young. Based on their findings, the Grand Jury did indict the VP, EP, and found fault with many security measures at the school.

On May 18, 2026, a jury was selected and on May 19,  2026,, the jury trial began. Suddenly, on May 20, 2026,  the trial was dismissed unilaterally by the judge. Evidently the 8 counts regarding the children did not meet the judges definition of criminal. 

SO, what about JT? Although I have no empathy for his actions, we know what angry children can do, wasn’t he a danger to himself?

BUT, didn’t the VP have a responsibility to protect JT from harming himself? He was not listed as one of the 8 counts.  His mother or custodial guardian was not called to testify by the prosecutors. The defense attorneys did not give an iota to the children’s rights. Other than the teacher, the most serious non physical trauma is actually being suffered by JT. Was the VP really protecting JT by ignoring nor acting proactively to the staff concerns? Why wasn’t he listed as a child in the indictment against the VP? 

The Grand Jury Report May explain about JT and the VP’s concern for safety. The teacher almost paid with her life. JT will never have a normal life. And as for the other children, well, the Judge did not care about their rights either. The prosecutor said in opening statements, the trial was about the children. Was it?  

What about JT? What about Justice for all? 

Read the Grand Jury Report in the link. Watch the short, dismissed trial on one of the many YouTube channels, like Court TV. And pray that your children’s school districts are prepared for prevention. The stakes are life changing when they are not.

https://www.wavy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Full-Report-2024-opt-1.pdf

Marian R. Carlino

May 25, 2026