McHenry County prosecutors met with school officials Friday to discuss whether to drop disorderly conduct charges against a Cary-Grove High School senior for writing an essay peppered with violent images, but no decision was made.
Allen Lee, 18, wrote the essay during an English class April 23, a week after the Virginia Tech massacre, and described “shooting everyone.”
The 342-word essay also had several sentences aimed at Lee’s English teacher, including: “No quarrel on you qualifications as a writer, but as a teacher, don’t be surprised on inspiring the first CG [Cary-Grove] shooting.”
Assistant State’s Atty. Thomas Carroll said he met with officials from Community High School District 155 about the possibility of dropping the charges. He said he wouldn’t make a decision until next week.
School district officials declined to comment Friday.
“I’m confident that once they meet they will all reach the same conclusion: He’s not a threat, never was a threat,” said Lee’s attorney, Dane Loizzo.
School officials turned over the essay to Cary police, who arrested Lee as he walked to school. He was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor that carries up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine.
The charges led the U.S. Marine Corps to discharge Lee from its early enlistment program, but officials said he could reapply if the charges were dropped.
Although students are warned not to write threats, Lee had said he thought that didn’t apply because the teacher told students to write whatever came to mind without thinking about censorship.
