Iraq War vet threatens to kill class full of people, police say | Crime

DALLAS - A Gaston College student, and Iraq War veteran, is facing charges for communicating threats after police say he told a girl that he was going to kill her and everyone else in their class.

Authorities arrested 23-year-old Bryan Steven Dirscherl, of Lincolnton, on Thursday and charged him with communicating threats and disorderly conduct.

According to the arrest warrants obtained by WBTV, the incident took place earlier this week in a classroom on the main campus of Gaston College.

A female student told police that Dirscherl pointed directly at her and said that he was plotting to kill her and everyone in her class, including the teacher.

Dirscherl was arrested and appeared in court on Friday afternoon.  His family was in the courtroom, but didn't say anything to reporters.

Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell asked the judge to send Dirscherl a psychiatric hospital for evaluation.

Dirscherl is a veteran of the war in Iraq and just returned home in January from serving time overseas with the National Guard.

Bell asked the judge to send him to Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Hospital immediately to see if Dirscherl is competent to stand trial, and to see if he has any other possible psychiatric issues.

District Attorney Bell didn't know if Dirscherl had access to any weapons

Dirscherl is being held under a $500,000 bond in the Gaston County Jail.