Mother furious as 13-year-old son is suspended for posting 'threatening' picture of Dr. Pepper cans: 'Kids can't be kids anymore'

A teenage student from a school in Missouri has been suspended after posting a 'threatening' photo online of a set of Dr. Pepper soda cans in the shape of a high-powered rifle.

Riley Grunden's 13-year-old boy was suspended for three days from Liberty Middle School in the small town of Mountain View after her son confessed to posting the controversial picture, which the school deemed to be a threat.

The teenager thought he was being artistic and creative as he stacked eight Dr. Pepper cans to make them look like an AK-47 rifle. 

Grunden feels the school have gone overboard in their reaction to his posting.

'Dr Pepper Cans this is a threat?' Grunden said to KY3 after visiting the school to deal with the fallout.

'When I went to the central office I was there to defend my son because I feel like he did nothing wrong,' she said. 'I am very mad. I feel like kids can't be kids anymore.'

But the school saw things differently and suspended the teen from the school for three days.

School officials told Grunden that her son had to turn himself in and report to the district's central office following concerns about the post. 

'I feel like his did nothing wrong.' Grunden added. 'There's staff who post pictures of real firearms when they go hunting or with their children - even posting pictures of children with real firearms. If that is not a threat how is Dr. Pepper cans that cannot do anything a threat?

When the boy returned to class he was forced to undergo a search before being allowed back on the premises. 

The boy will also have his permanent school record updated with one count of 'cyberbullying' and another of 'making a school threat'.

Grunden believes that her son should not have been punished noting how she would better understand if her son had made a direct threat to the district, a school, or another student. 

'He would be in a lot of trouble not just at school but at home.' she noted.

The school posted a series of lengthy statements online regarding the boy's antics. 

'We have enough information to believe the video had caused fear to at least one student, and understandably so,' Superintendent Lanna Tharp said.  

'We want to inform you that we have become aware of a rumor circulating on social media regarding a potential threat . Following a thorough investigation we have found no credible evidence of any danger.

'Some social media posts can cause stress on our students, families, and staff. Social media can also disrupt the learning environment,' the statement read.

The school went on to plead for parents to underline the gravity of the incident.

'We ask that you talk to your child about the seriousness of making a threat or posting anything of a threatening nature (images of weapons, violent song lyrics, violent videos, etc.). Please help us emphasize to all students that making a threat against a public school or any student, has serious legal and disciplinary consequences. 

'Posts of this nature are not funny or entertaining and will not be considered a joke or form of entertainment. Even posts that are made outside of school time, impacting the education of our students or causing fear to our students, will be investigated.'