Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WARWICK, R.I. -- A sixth-grade boy who brought a knife to school on Tuesday and had 29 names on a "kill list" has been suspended, Warwick police confirmed Thursday.

Warwick Police Maj. Joseph Tavares said a student at Elsie Robertson School 70 Nausauket Rd., pulled out a folding tool knife with a 2.5-inch blade and "displayed it in a threatening manner toward some other students. He didn't touch them or injure them at any point.," Tavares said, but "just doing that is enough to get him suspended."

Robertson Principal Lynn Dambruch called the police at 1:15 p.m., Tavares said, after confiscating the knife and calling the boy's mother. The school's support team was also called in, he said, which included a psychiatrist to help determine the boy's state of mind and evaluate the situation.

The boy had displayed the knife at recess, Tavares said officers were told. He had "gone close" to some students and "may have even made a slight contact," Tavares said, but no one was harmed.

While in the principal's office, the student had tried to discard a list entitled "kill list" containing 29 names. It was recovered in a trash basket in the principal's office, Tavares said.

The police were interviewing students and school personnel "to see if a crime has been committed," Tavares said. If the knife blade had been 3 inches or longer, "that would be a crime in itself."

Tavares said the student was suspended pending the investigation. "He will be out of school as he gets the help he needs," Tavares said.

Principal Dambruch sent a letter to parents dated April 9 that said: "On April 7th, a sixth grade student brought a pocket knife to school. The police were called to investigate. Information is being gathered. The matter is being handled through the Warwick Police Department and the Warwick School Department.

"Robertson School has always been a safe environment. My staff and I will continue to maintain our high integrity and commitment to your children."

 Tags  sixth grade sixth-grade boy Warwick Police Maj. Joseph Tavares Warwick RI

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