Teacher Accused Of Gun In Classroom Was Sub At Palo Alto Schools

PALO ALTO, CA – Palo Alto Unified School District officials said Thursday that an eighth-grade teacher arrested in San Jose on Wednesday had been a substitute teacher in the district on several occasions.

Charles So, 35, was arrested at Chaboya Elementary School for allegedly keeping a gun in his classroom and committing a strong-arm robbery in February, police said.

Officers responded to a person calling for help at 88 S. Fourth St. on Feb. 21 at 2:02 p.m. and allegedly found that road rage had escalated to a strong-arm robbery.

So allegedly battered a man and forcibly took his cell phone. A police investigation led to So's arrest at the school.

Police said So is employed as a full-time teacher and had a loaded handgun in a satchel inside his classroom at the time of his arrest.

Palo Alto Unified School District officials said So substituted on eight separate occasions during the 2017-18 school year before he was hired full-time at Chaboya.

So's job performance was satisfactory and he had passed all background checks before he was assigned to the schools, according to officials.

So will be booked into the county jail on suspicion of felony strong-arm robbery and possession of a gun at a school, police said on Wednesday.

Anyone with information about So is asked to call Sgt. Ray Vaughn at (408) 277-4166.

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--Bay City News/Image via SJPD