Florida teacher is arrested and fired after ‘bringing a loaded gun and two knives – including six-inch fighting knife – into elementary school classroom’ after her contract was not renewed
- Betty Jo Soto, 49, was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors of carrying a concealed weapon after allegedly bringing a gun and two knives to class
- She was immediately fired from her fourth grade teaching job in Seminole
- Soto was said to have a loaded Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol in her backpack and a six-inch Karambit fighting knife in her pocket on Monday
- Authorities found the weapons, and a two-inch knife, after Starkey Elementary School principal reported Soto behaving ‘suspiciously’
- The school district had recently decided not to renew Soto’s teaching contract, though it’s not known when Soto was informed of that decision
- Soto has a concealed weapons permit but it does not extent to a school campus
A Florida elementary school teacher has been arrested, charged and fired over allegedly bringing a loaded gun and a six-inch knife into her classroom after she was informed her contract would not be renewed.
Fourth grade teacher Betty Jo Soto, 49, had the gun in her bag and the knife in her pants pocket while at work at Starkey Elementary School in Seminole on Monday, authorities told the Tampa Bay Times.
Soto also allegedly had a two-inch push knife in the strap of her backpack.
The weapons were discovered after the school’s principal noticed Soto exhibiting ‘suspicious behavior’ and called law enforcement, Pinellas school district spokesperson Lisa Wolf-Chason said.
Florida elementary school teacher Betty Jo Soto, 49 (left and right), has been arrested, charged and fired over allegedly bringing a loaded gun and a six-inch knife into her classroom at Starkey Elementary School in Seminole on Monday
Soto, who has a concealed weapons permit, was reported to law enforcement by Principal Audrey Chaffin after she found her carrying a backpack around campus to be unusual, Wolf-Chason said.
‘The principal notified law enforcement and in the course of their investigation, discovered what was in her backpack,’ she said.
Soto was found to be carrying a loaded a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol and a six-inch Karambit fighting knife at around 11.30am Eastern, authorities said.
Soto was found to be carrying a loaded a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol and a six-inch Karambit fighting knife (stock photo) at around 11.30am Eastern, authorities said
Authorities said the gun, which contained seven bullets, was ‘exposed’ to students in Soto’s classroom. A stock photo of a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol is shown
Authorities said the gun, which contained seven bullets, was ‘exposed’ to students in Soto’s classroom.
Having a concealed weapons permit does not equate to having permission to carry such weapons on a public school campus.
The school district had recently decided not to renew Soto’s teaching contract for the upcoming academic year, Wolf-Chason said, though she did know when Soto was informed of that decision.
Soto was immediately fired from her teaching position and has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed weapon.
She has been released on a $500 bond. Soto did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Soto was arrested at Starkey Elementary School (pictured) in Seminole, Florida on Monday