Louisiana school bars student who said math symbol looks like gun

In February 2018, deputies from the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana investigated an allegation of terroristic threats at Oberlin High School. The investigation began after a student completed a math problem that required drawing a square-root symbol. Other students in the class commented that the mathematical sign looked like a gun. Gossip among fellow students subsequently transformed the original comments into a rumor that the teenager planned to commit a school shooting.

Authorities conducted a full investigation and searched the student’s home. According to reports at the time, detectives found no guns or any evidence suggesting the student had any intent to cause harm to school faculty or other students. Allen Parish Sheriff Herbert confirmed that the student had not committed a crime.

Despite the findings, the student was barred from returning to school while awaiting an expulsion hearing. The matter was turned over to the Allen Parish School Board to determine disciplinary action. School official Doucet defended the decision to investigate, stating that it was necessary to take such incidents seriously to prevent potential harm. Following the incident, the superintendent also outlined a new protocol for addressing potential shooting threats.