Parents have petitioned Riverside school officials to expel a fifth-grader who the principal said wrote a “kill list” with classmates’ names and are vowing to keep their children from class if the student returns.

Lake Mathews Elementary School Principal Pamela Williams wrote Monday, Jan. 16, in a four-paragraph letter that the school learned Thursday, Jan. 12, that a fifth-grader showed a list of student names labeled a “kill list” to other pupils.

Williams said officials looked into the matter and concluded that no one at the school was in danger.

Parents said they were told the student in question, a boy, was suspended two days – Friday and Tuesday, because the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed Monday and was to return to class Wednesday.

“The student will be back on Wednesday,” said Justin Grayson, a Riverside Unified School District spokesman, who provided Williams’ letter. He declined to comment beyond the statement. Two Riverside County Sheriff’s Department spokesmen did not comment Monday, Jan. 16.

Williams said the district, working with law enforcement, investigated the threat and whether it posed a danger to students. She said steps were taken to hold the student accountable “for the creation and sharing of this list” and procedures are in place to monitor the situation.

Many parents, however, remain concerned.

Mirella Madrigal, whose son found his name on a second, similar list, objected to the student’s return to class.

“It’s almost like a slap on the hand,” Madrigal said by phone. “I don’t think it’s enough to demonstrate the severity of the case. How do you get a two-day suspension for writing out two kill lists? It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

On Friday, a parent sent a petition with 86 signatures that demanded the student’s expulsion to Superintendent David Hansen.

“As concerned parents we feel that allowing this student on the school premises presents an imminent danger to our children,” the petition states. “Thus, we decided that we will not allow our children to attend school until the 5th grade student has been removed from the school premises permanently.”

UPDATE: Riverside fifth-grader’s ‘kill list’ not credible, sheriff’s say

California’s education law states that a pupil may be suspended or expelled if a principal or superintendent determines a student has “caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.”

Williams’ letter says that authorities determined there was no danger to students at the school south of Riverside, which has about 900 pupils.

“These types of behaviors are ALWAYS taken seriously by RUSD and therefore we immediately began an investigation, convened our site threat assessment team, and notified law enforcement,” Williams wrote. “As a result of this comprehensive process, it was determined that there was, and is, no danger to any of Lake Mathews’ students.”

Riverside school board member Tom Hunt called the list “concerning.”

“In today’s world, you don’t want to take anything like this lightly,” Hunt said.

It appeared the list stemmed from a conflict with other students, he said.

“It sounds to me like a young boy had some problems with some kids,” he said. “Obviously, the young man needs some counseling.”

On Monday afternoon, about 40 Lake Mathews parents gathered outside a nearby produce market.

Some said they planned to file police reports or attend the Riverside school board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17, to voice their displeasure. The topic isn’t on the board’s agenda, but the public can speak to trustees about any subject. Some said they wouldn’t let their children attend school Wednesday.

Nancie Johnson said her daughter discovered the second kill list at the student’s desk on Thursday. She, like other parents, was concerned that she heard about the possible threat from her child and not the school.

Johnson said she questioned Williams and was told it was just a “scary joke.”

Riverside principal’s letter regarding ‘kill list’ by The Press-Enterprise / PE.com on Scribd

Krystal Gross said she found out Wednesday from her daughter, who she said sits next to the student who wrote the note.

“For me, I can’t have my daughter go back to school and sit next to a kid who has her on a kill list,” Gross said.

Parent Heather Zirwas said she wonders if the school would have notified them if their children hadn’t told them and parents hadn’t demanded answers.

Madrigal said her son was shaken up by seeing his name on a list, with drawings of knives with blood and skulls.

“At first it didn’t really dawn on him, the severity of it,” Madrigal said. “And now he’s starting to understand it. He’s not coping well at all, and neither am I. He’s very shaken by it.”

Contact the writer: 951-368-9699 orddowney@scng.comTwitter: PE_DavidDowney

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