Colorado police were called to a 12-year-old boy’s home after he accidentally waved a toy gun during a virtual class.
Isaiah Elliott was home alone when a teacher called police to say he played with a toy gun during virtual art class.
The teacher admitted she knew the gun was a toy – it was a black and green plastic toy with the words “Zombie Hunter” on the side. But the teacher perceived the toy gun as a threat.
The boy’s mother, Dani Elliott, was at work when she received a call from the school’s principal saying officers were on their way to her home.
Elliott says she was terrified – especially because her son is Black.
“I never thought: ‘You can’t play with a Nerf gun in your own home because somebody may perceive it as a threat and call the police on you,'” Elliott said.
To add insult to injury, Isaiah was suspended for 5 days and now has a criminal record with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
He also has a disciplinary mark in his school records for bringing a “facsimile of a firearm to school” — even though he was in his own home.
Elliott vented her frustration at the school and the police. She said her son has attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and he is easily distracted, so he played with his gun.
“With the cultural events going on right now, especially for young African Americans, you calling the police and telling them that he could have a gun, you put his life in jeopardy,” Elliott said.
In a statement on Facebook, the Grand Mountain School administration blamed disinformation on the internet for the public uproar.
“We never have or ever will condone any form of racism or discrimination,” the statement said. “Safety will always be number one for our students and staff. We follow board policies and safety protocols consistently, whether we are in-person or distance learning.”
