- Principal Nina Denson allegedly walked through Washington Elementary on Wednesday and used her fingers to pretend to shoot several children.
- Staff said that after the exercise was over, Denson made an announcement saying seven children had died
- Some of the children who witnessed the principal’s actions were as young as four years old, parents said
A primary school principal has been put on leave after conducting a “disturbing” active shooter drill in which parents say she pretended to shoot a number of children.
Nina Denson performed the exercise Wednesday at Washington Elementary School in San Gabriel, California.
Children and parents are angry about what they consider to be completely inappropriate behavior by Denson during the shooting exercise.
One parent who spoke KTL said Denson used finger movements to pretend he was shooting the children, and punched the windows of the school.
Some children who witnessed the principal’s actions were as young as four years old, parents told the newspaper.
Children and parents are angry about what they say is a completely inappropriate series of behavior by Nina Denson, seen here, during the target practice
Parent Jennifer Chavez said, “She walked around campus pretending to shoot people she saw, using finger movements and banging on windows.
“What I heard, she told one of the students:” Boom. You are dead’. (My son) was very upset.
“The only shocking and surprising thing he said as a six-year-old was, ‘I’m just really glad none of my friends died.’
Ann Bustamante, another parent, said, “Can you imagine the trauma these children could possibly go through just thinking, ‘Oh my God, my friend has been murdered.’
“Or ‘I was shot and told I was dead.’ At the young age of these children that was very disturbing.’
The incident happened Wednesday at Washington Elementary in San Gabriel, California
Nina Denson performed the exercise Wednesday at Washington Elementary School in San Gabriel, California
Indignant parents told how their four -year -old children were traumatized by the exercise
Denson had joined the school as principal in the fall of last year, with a school district confirming that the practice had not been allowed.
Staff told the outlet that after the exercise was over, Denson made an announcement stating that seven children had died.
San Gabriel Unified School District Superintendent Jim Symonds said, “This type of scenario-based exercise is not approved by the district nor is it part of our district protocol.
District officials later sent an email to parents, stating, “The conduct of the exercise does not appear to have been in accordance with district protocols or best practices.”
Officials also said that because both staff and students were distressed by the exercise, counselors were on site to assist those who may need it.
Denson is placed on leave and there is currently an investigation into her behavior at school.
Chavez told KTLA that she had already made a decision and said: ‘I don’t want her back here. She does not have the confidence of the community. “
An update issued Thursday said a veteran teacher had taken over as interim principal while the investigation continued.