A man in Tennessee has been accused of threatening to shoot up his stepdaughter’s school after she was allegedly bullied by some of her classmates.
Keith Burton was arrested on Thursday, February 19, and charged with felony threat of mass violence on school property and misdemeanor assault.
Burton, 32, showed up at Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary School in Memphis on February 19, where he got into an argument with several students that he believed were bullying his stepdaughter, according to a police report viewed by WHBQ.
During the altercation, he allegedly yelled at the children, threw a water bottle and threatened two of the minors. “You better not come back to school tomorrow,” he allegedly said, according to the outlet.
The incident escalated when Burton allegedly pulled out a handgun and threatened to “shoot up the school,” according to WMC.
After the school learned about the incident, police were called to the building and the vice principal told authorities about Burton’s threats and interactions with the students.
Burton was then arrested and he reportedly admitted to police officers that he made the threat and threw the water bottle. He also explained that he was angry that his stepdaughter was being bullied, which led to his outburst and his decision to make the threats.
However, it is not currently clear why Burton believed the students were bullying his stepdaughter or if he had proof of the alleged bullying.
He was scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing on Tuesday, February 24. Three days later, Burton is expected to return to court on Friday, February 27.
He is currently being held at Shelby County Jail on a $75,000 bond.
It is not currently clear if Burton has entered a plea or retained legal representation.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for comment.
Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary School is a public school and is located in the northern part of Memphis. The school is part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district.
If Burton is found guilty of the felony threat of mass violence on school property charge, he could be sentenced to serve between one to six years in prison and to pay fines up to $3,000. The charge is considered a Class E felony in the state of Tennessee, and those accused of the crime can still be found guilty even if they don’t go through with the threat.
Meanwhile, misdemeanor assault is typically classified as a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee and is punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail. Additionally, those found guilty of the charge may also be ordered to pay a fine up to $2,500.
Court records indicate that Burton has faced legal issues in the past. In September 2025, he was accused of misdemeanor domestic assault causing bodily harm, according to court records viewed by Law & Crime. That case remains ongoing as of time of publication.
An investigation into Burton’s latest run-in with the law remains ongoing.
