PIKE COUNTY -- A high school student in the Poconos is facing serious felony charges because of a rap song he posted online.
In the song, titled "Columbine," Zyiar Clark, 18, allegedly makes physical threats against his teachers at East Stroudsburg High School North and calls them out by name.
Investigators arrested Zyiar Clark of East Stroudsburg Tuesday, charging him with numerous crimes, including three felony counts of aggravated assault and making terroristic threats.
At a movie theater in Marshalls Creek, some fellow North students said the situation was blown out of proportion.
“It's just a song, like the subject matter is a little much, but in the end, it's just a song, and at the end of the song, he said 'I'm just playing,' so a lot of people are outraged,” said Christian Lugo, a junior.
“A lot of people are just angry that something that was a joke could be taken too such extreme, but I mean, you got to be careful what you say. You know how it is,” said sophomore Zachary Simmons.
In the rap song “Columbine,” Clark allegedly calls a teacher by name then follows with these lyrics:
“You remind me of a teddy bear, spraying love everywhere. Good morning students, now there's body parts everywhere.”
Later in the song, he raps, “J.K. (just kidding) I'm just (expletive) with you.”
Referencing a military style rifle, he says, “I got an AK and it's coming for you, directly to you Mr. ____,” and then names another teacher.
“He might go to jail and stuff, he might be in serious trouble. People say he didn't do anything wrong, people say it wasn't a threat,” said James Holt, a senior.
As for his status as a student, the superintendent only said that Clark violated the district's Student Code of Conduct. However, the superintendent said officials felt there was no actual threat to safety.
“No, no, not at all, no. He's not going to shoot up the school. No one's scared at all,” agreed Lugo.
Court records show Clark is out of jail on bail.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 27 at 9:30 a.m. in Pike County.