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Teacher Arrested for Firing Blanks at Students

Shop teacher lined 12 students up, pulled out handgun

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 23, 2012 1:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – A high school teacher in Virginia has been arrested for what appears to have been a bizarre attempt to get his class to pay attention. Police say Manuel Dillow, 60, lined up a dozen students from his welding class in front of a garage door, pulled a handgun from his waistband, and fired a gun loaded with blanks up to 10 times in their direction, the New York Daily News reports.

Dillow had borrowed the gun from another teacher who used it as an aid in criminal justice classes. He has been charged with 12 felony counts of brandishing a firearm and removed from teaching duties, but not fired. The county sheriff says the charges are the result of Dillow "inciting fear into the students," but some students and parents are standing by the teacher. "I support Mr. Dillow 100% and my son and I will be in the court room when he goes to support him," one parent says.

Dillow, 60, has been charged with 12 felony counts of brandishing a firearm on school property.
Dillow, 60, has been charged with 12 felony counts of brandishing a firearm on school property.   (Police handout)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
BCS
Apr 24, 2012 12:13 AM CDT
Wow, that is some twisted shit. Funny as a thought but not funny to actually do. Blanks use paper or plastic wadding to seal gun powder into the cartridge, and this wadding is propelled from the barrel of the gun with enough force to cause severe injury or death if the weapon is fired within a few inches of the body, especially if pointed at a particularly vulnerable spot, such as the temple or the eye. Golden rule of guns. Never point them at someone for any reason other then self defense. It doesn't matter if you think it's unloaded or you checked it three times over. Never never point a gun at someone for no reason. ever Fire him at the least. He shouldn't get a serious sentence but 6 months of home confinement would give him some time to think about using common sense.
shaboom
Apr 23, 2012 11:37 PM CDT
When firing blanks at students is outlawed, only terrorists will be allowed to fire blanks at students! ...or something.
daveagain
Apr 23, 2012 4:33 PM CDT
Welding teachers and classes in high school are a little different. In mine(Kansas 1980-82), if you fell asleep, the teacher would throw a welding text book (3+ in thick) to land beside your head. If 2 students were getting unruly with each other (as a class full of boys will do), he would put them in the middle of a circle of other classmates and hand each a welding glove. They would then settle whatever was going on. Of course as a student, we would try to hand him a hot part to see if he would grab it with his bare hand. All his students (that I knew) respected him.

 
school shooting • high school students • teacher

 
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