Bond raised for Cumberland student accused of threatening school

Helena Johnson hoped a weekend stay at the Cumberland County Detention Center would help her son realize the seriousness of the threat he made to a teacher in which the teen threatened to shoot up the school. But her son's bond has been increased and she said she may not be able to get him out.

Posted 9:11 p.m. Feb 26, 2018 — Updated 10:20 a.m. Feb 27, 2018

Gilbert Baez

, WRAL reporter

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Helena Johnson hoped a weekend stay at the Cumberland County Detention Center would help her son realize the seriousness of the threat he made to a teacher in which the teen threatened to shoot up the school. But her son's bond has been increased and she said she may not be able to get him out.

Christopher Tavon Mitchell, 17, allegedly made the threat to his teacher at Gray's Creek High School after he arrived late to school last week, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said . The teen appeared Monday in court during a first appearance hearing while wearing a green jumpsuit.

Bond had initially been set at $10,000 but the Cumberland judge on Monday raised it to $125,000 based on the request of Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West. Mitchell is also charged with attempted armed robbery in connection with a crime that took place in December. Authorities did not immediately disclose details from that case.

Mitchell is scheduled to return to court on March 15.

His mother wept as her son stood in front of a judge.

Many local school districts are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for school violence in the wake of a Valentine's Day school massacre at a South Florida high school that left 17 people dead. The student in that attack, Nikolas Cruz, 19, remains in custody in connection with the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Investigators say Christopher Mitchell lobbed a threat to his teacher after reporting late to class.

“A bunch of kids that were in his class say he didn't say it to a teacher (but) mumbled it under his breath and then the next thing I know he's in jail," Johnson said.

His mother told WRAL News that she had a long talk with her son this weekend about the seriousness of the allegation.

"When you're made, just be humble," Helena Johnson said, adding that the teen apologized for his flip remark that has landed him in a ton of trouble. "He didn't know it was this serious. He's a kid. He didn't know but I told him stuff is going (on) in these schools and it's important not to do stuff like that."

Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright said authorities can not dismiss such threats given the school massacre in Florida.

“We can't take any threats lightly, especially with what's going on," he said. "That's 18 shootings at a school in less than a year. We here in Cumberland County can't take it lightly and I'm not going to take it lightly."

West agrees, which is why prosecutors asked for the increased bail.

"Given the nature of this threat (and) the fact that he was out on pre-trial for another case, we thought it was appropriate to not only increase the bond but also try to ensure that he didn't have access to any weapons."

If Mitchell is able to post bond, he will not be allowed to return to school and will be confined to house arrest. If convicted on the school threat charge, he could get more than three years behind bars.

Mitchell's mom has this advice for other parents: "Talk to your kids. I don't care if they tell you that there's nothing going on."

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