Teacher Tells 5th Grader She Keeps 'Kill List' With Names Of Students, Staff; Arrested

A school teacher has been arrested after she allegedly told a 5th-grade student that she had a "kill list," East Chicago police said Thursday.

Cops responded to a call at St. Stanislaus School, located in the 4900 block of Indianapolis Boulevard, at about 5 p.m. Wednesday. The principal and assistant principal informed the cops that a student told their counselor that the teacher, identified as Angelica Carrasquillo-Torres, had made comments about "killing herself, students and staff" at the school, WGN-TV reported.

The student, identified as Portia Jones, also revealed to the counselor that Carrasquillo-Torres told her she was named at the bottom of the said "kill list."

The 25-year-old teacher was taken into custody from her residence in Griffith on Thursday morning after East Chicago police approved an emergency detention order against her.

"I'm really, like, scared and worried," the student said, according to ABC7 Chicago. "She said she wanted to choke us, and she wanted to kill herself."

"They really need to work on this one because this is something serious," Portia's father Quiannis Jones told the outlet. "She's really, probably, not ever going back there."

When confronted by the principal about the matter, Carrasquillo-Torres reportedly admitted to talking to Portia and making comments about having a "kill list," but denied specifying any name and did not provide the list.

The principal dismissed the teacher and asked her not to return to the school, police noted. The school authorities informed cops about the situation at least four hours after the teacher was asked to leave, according to a release by East Chicago police. "Once Officers were notified they completed a report and notified the Criminal Investigation Division."

An investigation is underway into the matter. Meanwhile, the school sent an email to parents Thursday afternoon, apprising them of the situation.

"We were informed of a concerning report from a student regarding comments made by the student's teacher. The teacher was immediately removed from the classroom and detained while we investigated the incident. After students were safely dismissed, the teacher was escorted off campus and we notified the police," the principal wrote in the email.

"I'm worried for my child's safety," said Kirsten Saldivar, the parent of a Pre-K student at the school. "A child should not have to fear going to school every day, especially in such a small community of a school."

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours a day.