PHILIPPI – A former student says the Barbour County Board of Education failed to adequately protect him when another student brought a gun to school and threatened a class full of students.
Mason Bruce Campbell filed his complaint in Barbour Circuit Court against the school board, Traeton Long and his parents Vanessa L. and Christopher G. Long.
According to the complaint, Campbell was a freshman at Philip Barbour High School in Philippi during the 2015-16 school year. Traeton Long also was a PBHS freshman, and Campbell says Long had an “extensive history of violent, disruptive and anti-social behavior in school.”
Campbell also says Long placed a great deal of importance on his relationship with his girlfriend, saying he was extremely jealous and took actions to control her movements, decision-making and relationships.
On August 25, 2015, Traeton Long’s girlfriend ended their relationship. Long then began making threatening comments on social media toward the PBHS community. Campbell says at least one teacher knew of these threats but did not alert administrators.
Later that day, Campbell says Long came to the school late with guns, clips and ammunition he obtained at home. He says Long’s parents did not properly store the guns and ammo safely.
Campbell says Long went to the classroom where his former girlfriend was located, brandished the gun and began threatening the 27 students and teacher, including pointing the gun in the teacher’s face. Campbell was one of the students.
He says Long told the teacher and students they were going to die, and he told them to say goodbye to their family and friends in their heads. He told the teacher to cover the windows, lock the door, throw her keys on the floor and ordered the students to throw their cell phones onto the floor.
“He told his hostages that he would ‘blow their f---ing heads all over the classroom,’” the complaint states, adding that Long asked his hostages questions. “He also told them that if they did not answer as he wanted, he would blow their heads off.”
Campbell said the situation lasted for about 45 minutes. He said Long prevented the teacher from covertly alerting the office about the situation because students had been taught the location of the alert earlier in the school year.
The hostage event ended when the class period ended and new students tried to enter the classroom.
“The teacher managed to signal the new students who alerted another teacher to the danger,” the complaint states, saying administration was alerted and a “Code Red” was declared. “Police were notified. First responders arrived. After more time passed, Traeton Long released the hostages and … ultimately was taken into custody.
“Traeton Long grinned as he exited PBHS in police custody.”
Campbell says Long was prosecuted as a juvenile and that his records are sealed.
He says the school system has a history of negligent decision-making regarding safety and failed to provide a safe learning environment for PBHS students.
Campbell says the defendants’ negligence has caused him to seek counseling, suffer past and future pain and suffering, suffer humiliation and embarrassment and suffer a reduction in his ability to enjoy life and carry out ordinary physical and mental activities.
He seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as interest, attorney fees, court costs and other relief.
The board filed a motion to dismiss, claiming it isn’t responsible for the actions of Long. Long’s parents also filed an answer to the complaint, seeking legal counsel be appointed to them. They say their son is incarcerated and can’t be served or answer the complaint.
Campbell is being represented by attorney LaVerne Sweeney of Grafton. The board is being represented by Susan Deniker, Mark Jeffries and Alyssa Lazar of Stteptoe & Johnson’s Bridgeport office.
The case originally was assigned to Circuit Judge Shawn Nines, but he recused himself. Circuit Judge Alan Moats now will hear the case.
Barbour Circuit Court case number 20-C-33