TN Mom Points Cap Gun at Kindergarten Class 3 Days after Massacre

By Anastacia Mott Austin

Elementary school officials in the small town of Church Hill, Tennessee, are scratching their heads over an apparent prank played by the mom of one of their kindergarteners.

On Thursday, mom Heather Berg came to her child’s kindergarten class at Church Hill Elementary School to pay for a field trip. When the teacher’s back was turned, a classroom aide saw her take out what appeared to be a silver gun. School principal Jean Heise told reporters, "The mom walked in toward the middle of the classroom, and the teacher hears this click, click, click, click – like four to six times. A teacher’s assistant witnessed her take a gun and point it directly toward four to five kids. With everything that’s happened the last couple of days, [the teacher’s aide] was just in shock."

The gun turned out to be a toy cap gun, though the "joke" didn’t go over very well for the children or for school officials. Principal Heise called the police. Area police chief Mark Johnson stated in a press release, "A staff member and several children initially thought the gun was real and were fearful."

Church Hill is located approximately nine miles from Kingsport, Tennessee, along the Virginia border, where local residents are understandably jittery this week.

Police Chief Johnson added, "Even before Virginia Tech you would think that the average adult in America today would know you don’t bring any type of gun to school — toy or not. Second of all, you wouldn’t go around pointing at kindergartners making shooting noises."

Police questioned Berg about the motive for her actions, and though she said "I didn’t mean any harm," law enforcement officials felt that "Berg’s actions constituted a monumental lapse in judgment" for which she has been charged with assault. "It is our contention that her actions caused others to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury."

A court appearance has been set for Berg on April 30. If found guilty, she could be sentenced to one year in prison, and face a fine of up to $2,500.

In addition, she has been forbidden to approach the Church Hill Elementary School premises for a full year.