GATESVILLE – A Gates Central Middle School student was found with a “hit list”.

According to a report from television station WAVY 10 in Hampton Roads, a student at the school reportedly compiled a list people he or she was to planning to kill.

“The child was telling people this is a list of people I am going to kill,” a concerned parent of a student from the school said.

The names of the entire 8th grade class and several faculty members were reportedly on the list.

The student has been removed from the school for 10 days pending an investigation and discipline hearing.

“We can’t release any information about the case,” Gates County Sheriff Ed Webb said. “We received a complaint and the matter is under investigation.

“Since we are dealing with a minor, we have to draft a juvenile petition and send it to Elizabeth City,” Webb said. “It is a different process from just issuing a warrant.

“We will try to provide a security officer at the middle school in the future,” Webb added. “We had one there in the past, but due to budget cuts, we no longer have an officer there.”

A call was placed to the office of Gates County Superintendent Dr. Robert Hahne, but was not returned prior to the news deadline for today’s edition.