Three first graders at an elementary school in Anchorage, Alaska, were suspended after they were caught allegedly plotting to kill another classmate.
The trio had planned to put silica gel, which are used as preservatives in lunch bags, into their classmate’s lunch, believing it was poisonous because of the “do not consume” warning sign on the packets.
Their scheming was overheard by a fellow student, who reported them to the school authorities.
“We’re grateful that we had students come forward and share their concern,” Ed Graff, superintendent with the Anchorage School District, told ABC News. “We also will talk to students about where they learn this and do they recognize the seriousness of their comments and their actions.”
Silica gel, a drying agent, is actually non-toxic, but the incident predictably left many parents concerned.
No student was poisoned, and no charges have been filed against the alleged plotters, although each of them did speak to the police.
“A resource officer spoke with each student involved as well as the victim and thoroughly went over with them the repercussions of this kind of stuff,” Anchorage police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro told ABC News. “We really tried to give them the straight talk and the big picture of what this could have potentially turned into.”
