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Gaston Co. student accused of having hit list, threatening to kill teachers, classmates

By Ken Lemon, wsoctv.com
By Ken Lemon, wsoctv.com

GASTONIA, N.C. — Authorities said they’ve arrested a student accused of threatening to kill students and teachers at Forestview High School in Gastonia.

Hunter Bazzle, 17, is in custody under $250,000 bond.

[RELATED: Local law enforcement, CMS launch awareness campaign to combat school threats]

Officials said students came forward Monday, saying they heard Bazzle talking about a hit list and plans to kill people at the school and then himself.

Prosecutors said at one point, Bazzle entered the classroom of one of the teachers he wanted to kill, but investigators said he wasn't armed and no one was hurt.

Police said Bazzle never got the chance to return to campus after they heard about the threats.

Officials said those students went to a school resource officer.

Bazzle made his first court appearance Wednesday.

He is accused of telling five students on Monday that he wanted to shoot three teachers, some students and then turn the gun on himself.

Prosecutors explained a chilling moment when they said Bazzle visited one of the teachers.

"He showed up in one of the named teacher's classroom and he didn't have class there,” said Assistant District Attorney Zack Holeve.”The teacher didn't know this was going on, looked at him, 'Why are you here?' and had him leave the classroom."

Holeve said that act and Bazzle's battle with mental health issues worried administrators.

"Administrators from the school are here expressing their concern, their fear for the safety of their school,” Holeve said.

Bazzle was barred from returning to the school.

Police arrested Bazzle at his Gastonia home Tuesday, despite the fact that there is no information that the teen had a gun on campus and he didn't have one at home.

Cierra Heavner, a student at Forestview who lives in Bazzle’s neighborhood, said other students viewed him as “troubled.”

"It was scary. We should have known about it,” Heavner said.

Administrators sent parents a vague email about the situation.

Students said they learned some of the details by word of mouth.

A parent told Channel 9 the $250,000 bond isn't enough.

"I feel like it should have been higher,” parent Lisa Morgan said. “He made the threat that put our students and teachers at risk."

Bazzle’s attorney argued for a $10,000 bond because there are no weapons at Bazzle's home, and he said the family would make sure Bazzle took any medication needed to manage his mental illness.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

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