A Grace Christian Academy parent attending an open house drew a gun on the school’s physical education teacher, who happens to be a martial arts instructor, in an attempt to make a point, according to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.
Grace Christian Academy is located in St. Lucie West on NW Peacock Boulevard.
George Meyer, 61, allegedly took issue with the phys ed teacher’s comments about how guns are not always the best answer when it comes to self-defense. The teacher, identified as Christopher Lasala, was talking to two other parents about an after-school martial arts program he was planning to bring to the school when he made comments regarding self-defense and guns.
Meyer, according to the police report, inserted himself into the conversation by pulling a gun from his pocket several feet away and leveled it at Lasala.
“Bang! You’re dead,” Meyer told Lasala, according to what witnesses told investigators.
Lasala argued that he was not, in fact, dead, which led Meyer to continue, saying, “No, you’re dead. My gun is locked and loaded.”
The two parents Lasala had been talking to, along with their child, were between he and Meyer at the time of the altercation. Other children were also in the area, the report states.
The parents told investigators that Meyer approached and said Lasala was “full of (expletive)” and attempted to prove that Lasala could not disarm him at 21 feet. That’s when he pulled out the gun – when he was 10 feet away – and pretended to fire it at the teacher, the report states. Meyer then put his gun away and sat down, according to one witness, who said he continued to try to challenge Lasala before Meyer left the school.
Lasala notified the principal, who called authorities. Meyer was gone by the time they arrived. He was located at his home in the 6800 block of NW Brookhaven Ave. A Beretta .32 caliber with seven rounds was recovered.
Meyer has since been released from the county jail. He faces several felony charges including aggravated assault with deadly weapon – without intent to kill; carrying a concealed weapon – firearm; weapon offense – exhibition of firearm/destructive device/weapon within 1,000 feet of school property; and a misdemeanor charge of weapon offense – improper exhibition of firearm or dangerous weapon.
