Teacher arrested for firing blanks at his students

Manuael Ernest Dillow

ABINGDON, Va. — A Washington County teacher accused of firing a blank gun in a welding class is facing criminal charges.

Police tell media outlets that 60-year-old Manuael Ernest Dillow is charged with 12 felony counts of brandishing a weapon.

Dillow is accused of lining up a dozen students near a garage door and firing the blank gun multiple times in their direction.

Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman said the incident occurred April 4 at the William N. Neff Center in Abingdon.

No students were injured. A motive hasn’t been released.

Washington County Schools Superintendent Jim Sullivan said Dillow isn’t working now but he couldn’t comment further because it’s a personnel matter.

Credit: The Associated Press.