High school teacher 'lined up terrified students and fired blanks at them' during class



High-school welding classes always carry a high risk of injury but last week one lesson took a bizarrely dangerous turn.



In an apparent attempt to get his students' attention one welding teacher lined up his class against a wall, pulled a gun from his waistband and fired multiple rounds of blanks.



The twelve students allegedly feared for their lives when Manuael Dillow fired off between four and ten rounds at them during a welding class.



Bizarre: High-school teacher Manuael Ernest Dillow allegedly pulled out a gun during his welding class and fired blanks at his terrified students

Dillow, 60, a teacher at William H.Neff Center, in Virginia, was arrested last Wednesday and faces twelve felony counts of brandishing a firearm and inciting fear in the students.

He had borrowed the blank firing handgun from another teacher who teaches criminal justice at the vocational school and uses the gun as a visual aid.



Although the weapon is not capable of firing live bullets it makes a loud sound similar to that of an actual firearm, according to police.

Welding: The incident happened during a welding class at the high-school last Wednesday

None of the twelve students were injured but Dillow is facing one criminal count for every student he fired at – each count carries a maximum of five years behind bars.



Police have said it is not clear why the teacher pulled the stunt.



Dillow has been suspended from teaching at the Abingdon school but has not been fired.



One student, Matt Wilkinson, who was in the classroom when the incident unfolded, is standing by Dillow.

Suspended: Dillow has been suspended from the school after being charged with 12 felony counts of brandishing a firearm and inciting fear

Mike Wilkinson, Matt’s father, argues that his son was not afraid when Dillow shot the gun and that the teacher did not point the gun at the children.



He told WCYB.com : 'I support Mr. Dillow 100-percent and my son and I will be in the court room when he goes to support him.'

