DOWNSVILLE, La. ( KTVE/KARD ) — A physical education teacher in Union Parish has been arrested for threatening to shoot a class of third graders, officials said.

Robert Mitcham, 70, of Ruston, was arrested Thursday in Lincoln Parish and charged with terrorizing.

Authorities said the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office was contacted Tuesday by a concerned parent of a Downsville Community Charter School student. Deputies were informed that a physical education teacher at DCCS, Mitcham, became angry last week during class and told his third-grade students that he “had bullets for his gun and he would bring it to the school and shoot,” and that “some of the students would not survive.”

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According to officials, Mitcham allegedly further told the students that there were “too many of y’all to get rid of,” and he “only had six bullets in his gun.” Witnesses said that when an older student told another teacher, Mitcham then apologized to the students.

Authorities said the parent informed deputies that their child was scared, as were other students in the same class. Deputies interviewed students who witnessed the incident.

Authorities spoke with Mitcham and he allegedly told officials that he felt overwhelmed and just wanted the children to settle down, and that he was not threatening them.

His bond was set at $15,000. According to authorities, Mitcham was barred from returning to the campus of Downsville Community Charter School.

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