A mother of a kindergartner in Durham, N.C., was arrested Monday after reportedly throwing lighter fluid on her son’s teacher and threatening to burn the school down.
Shequelia Sheala Leonard was set to meet with her son’s teacher, Megan Jones, at Eno Valley Elementary School. But Leonard became angry at the accusations Jones made about her son. An argument ensued, and the principal informed Leonard that she had to leave the premises, according to WRAL.
While walking down the hallway, Leonard allegedly took a liquid out of her purse and splashed it on the teacher and then yelled that she was going to burn the school down. Leonard was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, malicious use of explosives causing injury, and misdemeanor communicating threat; she is being held on a $50,000 bond at Durham County Detention Center.
The superintendent of schools, Bert L’Homme, stated that Jones returned to work Wednesday.
“We are very grateful that the teacher affected by Monday’s incident is all right,” L’Homme said in the statement. “She returned to work Tuesday and her school family has pulled together to support her. We ask that everyone respect her privacy. This incident is a strange exception to the mutual respect DPS’s families and educators maintain every day. Teachers and families must be partners to help our children succeed in school and life, and we will do whatever it takes to ensure that they feel safe and valued in working with each other.”
Read more at WRAL.