Florida

‘1,000 Person Body Count': High School Teacher in Florida Baker Acted After Allegedly Describing Way to Kill Students

What to Know

  • Cook has been placed on administrative leave while awaiting the outcome of an investigation from the Polk County School District.

A high school math teacher and former Marine Corps member was Baker Acted after he allegedly told students how he would have a ‘1,000 person body count’ during an active shooter drill last week.

The Ledger reports that Keith Cook, who has taught at Lakeland High School for over five years, was taken into custody Monday and transported to a facility after an investigation into the alleged comments last Friday at the school.

One student told investigators that during the drill, Cook said that he would “personally place a bomb in the corner the students were in,” adding that he “would put nails in the bomb to get everyone in the class.”

Investigators, who were called in after parents notified school administrators, interviewed over a dozen students in the class at the time with all of them confirming the same account.

Cook has been placed on administrative leave while awaiting the outcome of an investigation from the Polk County School District. He has no criminal history and had no weapons at his home when officers came to take him into custody.

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