An Indiana mother faces serious charges after bringing a loaded gun to her daughter’s elementary school during a confrontation with a teacher over an assignment involving the rainbow flag.
Quick Takes
- Carrie Rivers was arrested for possession of a firearm on school property and harassment after confronting her daughter’s teacher at Valley Mills Elementary School in Indianapolis.
- The incident was triggered by a classroom assignment about different types of flags, which included a reference to the rainbow pride flag.
- Rivers allegedly used homophobic slurs against the teacher and sent threatening messages calling her a “child predator.”
- The teacher had explained the assignment was about flag representations, not LGBTQ topics, and had allowed Rivers’ daughter to skip it.
- Rivers’ husband claimed she “forgot” she had the gun and that other parents routinely bring firearms to school, despite legal prohibitions.
Armed Mother Confronts Teacher Over Flag Assignment
The confrontation occurred at Valley Mills Elementary School in Indianapolis when Carrie Rivers arrived to discuss an assignment in her daughter’s sixth-grade class. Rivers objected to what she believed was LGBTQ-related content being taught to her child. According to police reports, school staff discovered Rivers had a pistol in her waistband during the heated interaction. When confronted about the weapon, Rivers allegedly admitted to having the firearm but claimed she was so accustomed to carrying it that she had forgotten it was on her person.
The responding officer, Tabetha Emenaker, documented the encounter in her report. “Carrie Rivers stated that she did have a gun as I was removing it from her person,” wrote Emenaker, confirming that the mother was armed while on school grounds, which is illegal in Indiana. The incident has raised serious concerns about school security protocols and the enforcement of weapons restrictions on educational campuses.
Assignment at Center of Controversy
The classroom conflict centered around an educational assignment involving different types of flags. The teacher had included the rainbow pride flag as an example of a non-national flag, alongside other examples. When Rivers’ daughter reported this to her mother, Rivers interpreted it as inappropriate LGBTQ content being pushed onto students. Despite the teacher’s explanation that the lesson was simply about flag representations and not about sexuality, Rivers remained unsatisfied.
“We see [other parents] bring guns into the school all the time, just to drop kids off,” said Leon Rivers, the child’s father, attempting to normalize the presence of firearms on school property despite clear legal prohibitions against such actions. – Source
Records show the teacher had a family photo of herself with her wife and daughter displayed on her desk, which appeared to further agitate Rivers. Despite this tension, the teacher had already accommodated Rivers’ concerns by allowing her daughter to skip the assignment entirely, a compromise that evidently did not satisfy the parent’s objections.
Escalating Threats Following School Visit
After leaving the school, Rivers’ behavior reportedly intensified. She sent a series of disturbing messages to the teacher that included both homophobic slurs and explicit threats. In one message, Rivers wrote, “God will condemn you to hell,” while another ominously stated, “Say ur prayers and kiss ur kids goodbye and goodnight u never know when god says its our time so be prepared.” These communications prompted school officials to contact law enforcement immediately.
“Say ur prayers and kiss ur kids goodbye and goodnight u never know when god says its our time so be prepared,” Rivers allegedly messaged the teacher after leaving the school premises.
The threatening messages, combined with the earlier firearms violation, resulted in multiple charges against Rivers. She now faces criminal counts for possession of a firearm on school property and harassment. The school district has also taken protective measures by banning Rivers from all school property for the foreseeable future, issuing a formal no-trespass order to ensure the safety of students and staff.
School District Response
School administrators have emphasized their commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment for all students in the wake of this incident. The quick response by school staff and local police has been praised for preventing any potential escalation of the situation. The district has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy regarding weapons on campus and threats against educational personnel, regardless of the nature of parental complaints.
This case highlights ongoing tensions in schools across the country regarding curriculum content and parental rights. While parents have legitimate interests in their children’s education, educational experts emphasize that disagreements must be addressed through appropriate channels without resorting to intimidation, threats, or violations of safety regulations designed to protect the entire school community.
Sources:
- Indiana mom took gun to grade school and threatened lesbian teacher, police say
- ‘Irate’ mother arrested after bringing gun to school, allegedly threatening to murder lesbian teacher’s family over LGBTQ assignment
