A TEENAGE boy has been suspended from school after sharing a picture of a “gun,” but his mother has hit back at authorities and insisted her son was just being “creative.”

The 13-year-old posted a photograph of soda cans in the shape of a high-powered rifle.

A student has been suspended for sharing a photo of soda cans arranged like a gunCredit: KSPR

Riley Grunden, the boy’s mother, has slammed the decision to suspend her sonCredit: KSPR

Authorities representing Liberty Middle School in Mountain View, Missouri have defended the moveCredit: KSPR

Now the boy’s mother has slammed the school for overreacting to what she says was just creativity.

The controversial photo was shared on social media by a teenage student at Liberty Middle School in the small town of Mountain View, Missouri.

It shows eight Dr. Pepper cans arranged to look like an AK-47 rifle.

Riley Grunden, the boy’s mother, has spoken out after her son was suspended for three days.

“Dr. Pepper Cans, this is a threat?” she said in an interview with news outlet KYTV.

She added that school officials told her to make her son turn himself in after concerns over the post.

“When I went to the central office I was there to defend my son because I feel like he did nothing wrong,” she said.

She also said authorities told her that her son needed to be searched.

“I am very mad,” she fumed. “I feel like kids can’t be kids anymore.”

She insisted that her son’s post had not been a direct threat to the school or another student and that if it had been, “he would be in a lot of trouble not just at school but at home.”

The boy also has a count of “cyberbullying” and one of “making a school threat” on his permanent record.

School authorities have spoken out to defend their actions.

In a statement, the Mountain View Birch Tree School District said: “We have enough information to believe the video has caused fear to at least one student, and understandably so.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority and we responded swiftly to address the concerns.”

School Superintendent Lanna Tharp said: “We have enough information to believe the video had caused fear to at least one student, and understandably so.

“We want to inform you that we have become aware of a rumor circulating on social media regarding a potential threat . Following a thorough investigation we have found no credible evidence of any danger.

“While this instance appears to hold no merit and impacts another school in the state rather than ours, we at Mountain View Birch Tree want to assure our public that we are vigilant in watching what is going on in and around our district to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community always.”

Posts of this nature are not funny or entertaining, and will not be considered a joke or form of entertainment

Mountain View Birch Tree School District

In a separate statement, school authorities warned parents to be hypervigilant about what their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren were posting online.

“Some social media posts can cause stress on our students, families, and staff,” it read. “Social media can also disrupt the learning environment.”

It went on: “We ask that you talk to your 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 about the seriousness of making a threat or posting anything of a threatening nature (images of weapons, violent song lyrics, violent videos, etc.

“Please help us emphasize to all students that making a threat against a public school or any student, has serious legal and disciplinary consequences.

“Posts of this nature are not funny or entertaining, and will not be considered a joke or form of entertainment.

“Even posts that are made outside of school time, impacting the education of our students or causing fear to our students, will be investigated.”

The U.S. Sun has approached Mountain View School District for comment.