The Hampstead school superintendent and school board chairman are denouncing comments made by an official at a budget meeting who described how he would shoot students, saying he would \"have a field day.\"

Advertisement Hampstead budget committee chairman describes school shooting methods Jorge Mesa-Tejada describes how he would commit school mass shooting Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Comments made by the chair of the Hampstead Budget Committee are causing a stir.The town’s advisory committee was having a discussion about eliminating mobile classrooms behind the Hampstead Central School to increase student safety.During the conversation, Advisory Budget Committee Chairman Jorge Mesa-Tejada said renovations would not make the school any safer, and described how he would commit a mass murder at the school.“Based on my Marine Corps training, I wouldn't do it as they go from the main building. I would wait until recess. I would hide in the woods behind them and I would have a field day,” Mesa-Tejada said.The comments were in the context of school safety, but some are saying it was offensive and unnecessary.“Anytime someone talks about a school shooting, any time you talk about violence towards our kids, it’s not funny,” Caitlin Parnell said. “It’s not a joke and it makes me sick.”After several concerned calls, the school district issued a statement alerting parents about the incident.“Disturbing, disgusting, outraged ... those are some emotions that come to mind, both as a parent of children in the school district and as the superintendent.” Superintendent Dr. Earl Metzler said.Mesa-Tejada has been banned from school property.“I can't even begin to explain how someone goes from discussing a bond article, talking about construction at the school, to detailing how he would commit a mass shooting at our elementary school,” said Jason Cipriano, Hampstead School Board chairman. “I can't speak to him and his mentality, or how he got there. All I can say is that I am very disturbed.”Metzler said Mesa-Tejada has worked as an elected official for decades, and has been warned before about certain comments he has made, but never to this level.“Anybody that puts our children's safety at risk, I don't think is fit to serve in any public capacity,” Metzler said.News 9’s attempts to contact Mesa-Tejada by phone and at his door were unsuccessful.