Teacher arrested for making threats

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A local high school teacher is under fire for allegedly threatening to shoot a principal and students at West Orange High School.

According to the arrest report taken by the Orange County Sheriff's Office , witnesses say science teacher Jerrold Gabriel made threats to faculty and students while on campus. The document describes Gabriel as displaying odd behavior and threatened West Orange High School Principal Mr. Larson with 13 days to live.

Mr. Gabriel spoke with FOX 35 over the phone and stated that he was being targeted by the school officials. Gabriel would not go into a lot of details but would only say that he was targeted after alerting his superiors about another faculty member at the school who allegedly, requested sex from students in exchange for higher grades. Gabriel says he reported the issue and it was allegedly never addressed so he told the faculty member quote: "I will kill your career."

The arrest report does not have any details of that incident but the report does state that Mr. Gabriel told a guidance councilor to put a student at the top of a list to get into a class. Mr. Gabriel then allegedly told the guidance councilor that any student ahead of his request would be shot.

Gabriel’s attorney Scott Richardson issued this statement to FOX 35: “Apparently ,there was some odd behavior on the part of Mr. Gabriel and the behavior involved words that were taken out of context. I believe the evidence will show, he didn't intend to hurt anybody and would not have the ability to carry out these threats.”

The Orange County School District has suspended Gabriel with pay. He was ordered not to go back on school property, and according to the arrest report, he was told to get a mental health evaluation.

A representative from the school district told FOX 35 that parents were not notified about this incident because they do not routinely report arrests of employees who are no longer working for the district. The district allows the principal to determine what is best for their school community. Officials are looking into the allegations made by Gabriel about another faculty member who allegedly sexually abused students.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office says he was released on $500.00 bond on October 13.

Gabriel’s arraignment date has not been set but he plans to plead not guilty.