He was a year or two older than most of his classmates who described him as a quiet boy who never talked about guns or violence.

The boy's mother said he seemed nervous before leaving for school, but when she asked him about it, he attributed it to getting the results of the "LEAP" tests that eighth-graders must pass to be promoted.

Gaspard said he was in his seventh-grade English and reading class when the boy came in. The teen yelled for everyone to get down, cursing at the class.

Nobody moved. Gaspard knew the boy, whom he described as quiet and nice, and thought it was a dramatic enactment for some sort of lesson. Then, he said, the boy walked over and pointed the gun at the teacher, ordering her to say, "Hail Marilyn Manson," referring to the shock-rock icon, Gaspard said.

She said nothing. After firing into the wall, the youngster told another boy to get up. The seventh-grader stayed in his seat, and the teen left.

Webre said he couldn't confirm Gaspard's account.