An Indiana mother is facing serious charges after she allegedly brought a gun onto school property and sent threatening messages to her daughter’s sixth-grade teacher over an assignment that briefly mentioned same-sex relationships.
Carrie Rivers, 48, was arrested in Decatur Township, just outside Indianapolis, and charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds and harassment, police confirmed Tuesday.
The incident happened at Valley Mills Elementary School, where Rivers reportedly confronted her daughter’s teacher—who is openly lesbian—over a classroom assignment involving flags, including a rainbow flag with the phrase “Be Kind.”
According to a police affidavit, Rivers accused the teacher of “pushing a personal agenda” and called her a “child predator” both in person and later in a string of threatening messages.
After being escorted out of the building, Rivers sent a chilling message to the teacher: “Say your prayers and kiss your kids goodbye… you never know when God says it’s our time.”
The teacher told police she had only used the rainbow flag as one example in a lesson on international and cultural symbols and had allowed Rivers’ daughter to skip the assignment after concerns were raised.
Authorities said Rivers had a gun on her waistband when she arrived at the school. When questioned, she claimed she forgot she was wearing it, saying she was “so used to carrying it.”
Her husband later defended her actions, saying she meant no harm and had the gun for “security,” adding that many parents bring guns when dropping off kids. But school officials made it clear: Rivers is now permanently banned from all school property.
In a statement, the Decatur Township School District emphasized its commitment to safety, praising staff and police for defusing the situation without harm.
“We are committed to ensuring a safe learning environment,” the district said. “Hate and threats have no place in our schools.”
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