Tenn. teacher allegedly threatened to shoot up preschool where she worked

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TCD) -- A 29-year-old teacher faces charges after allegedly threatening to pull a gun on students and another teacher at a preschool following an argument.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department alleges that Sheneca Cowart threatened a fellow teacher at the Academy of McCrory Lane on Newsome Station Road. According to an affidavit reviewed by WKRN-TV, officers responded to the school on Thursday, April 18, at approximately 11 a.m. in reference to the threats.

Police made contact with a school employee who reportedly said they were on lockdown, but Cowart was in the classroom with another teacher and students. WKRN reports that investigators obtained surveillance footage showing Cowart in the room, but they did not see any apparent weapons. She reportedly moved the children into a closet per the school’s lockdown procedures.

Police entered the building and had Cowart exit the closet, and they took her into custody without incident, WKRN reports.

Other school employees reportedly told police they heard Cowart threaten the school. According to WKRN, the affidavit says, "The victim stated she heard Cowart say that she was going to shoot up the school and that she keeps her gun on her."

The affidavit says another teacher also heard the threat, and someone heard Cowart say things such as, "When I start shooting, you better run."

Cowart reportedly claimed she told a teacher on April 10 that she wasn’t going to kill them but shoot them in the kneecaps instead. Cowart denied making threatening statements on April 18.

Cowart also reportedly told police she didn’t have a firearm on her, but there was one in her car in the parking lot. Police recovered a handgun in Cowart’s purse and another in her vehicle.

Cowart faces charges of assault, threat of mass violence at a school, and two counts of carrying a weapon onto school property. She was held on a $37,000 bond but later released.

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