Missouri student arrested for taking knives to class, told police he researched school shootings

A 19-year-old Missouri student was taken into custody this week after threatening to harm himself and possibly other students, court records said.

Matthew W. Underwood, Jr., of Versailles, Mo., was arrested and charged with unlawful use of a weapon for taking two knives into a school.

According to a probable cause statement filed in Morgan County, Mo., Circuit Court, police received a call Monday morning that Underwood, a student of the Morgan County R-1 School District, told his family he was going to kill himself. He also told his family that he made threats to other students at school and was armed with a possible weapon.

By the time officers reached Underwood, he was in Eldon where he attended classes at the Eldon Career Center.

Eldon police officers said Underwood had two folding knives with him in his coat pocket and that he became combative when police arrived.

Underwood was taken into custody by a school resource officer and transported to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.

In an interview with a police detective, court records indicated Underwood was thinking of suicide but also said he “had researched school shootings and was considering going to Stover School and shooing kids and teachers.”

Matt Unger, superintendent for the Morgan County R-1 School District, released a statement on the district’s Facebook page Tuesday following the incident.

“Student safety is always our highest priority! Police have arrested the student. We will be conducing our own investigation and will follow our school policies,” Unger said in a statement. “We are thankful that we have a professional relationship with law enforcement and appreciate their support in helping keep Morgan County R-1 school district safe.”

Underwood remained in the Morgan County jail Saturday with bond set at $15,000, cash only.

A court date has not yet been scheduled in the case.

This story was originally published February 3, 2018 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Missouri student arrested for taking knives to class, told police he researched school shootings."