LOGAN, W.Va. — An assistant prosecutor in West Virginia has been suspended after pulling a gun and threatening to shoot fake spiders scattered around the office as Halloween decorations.

Prosecuting Attorney John Bennett tells media outlets that Chris White informed other employees that he is “deathly afraid of spiders” before threatening to shoot. Bennett says he was out of the office at the time but was told about the incident by shaken employees.

He says White assured him the gun wasn’t loaded. Bennett suspended White on Wednesday, several weeks after the incident, because employees were still upset.

The spider decorations have been removed, and Bennett has barred anyone other than the agency’s investigator from carrying guns in the office.

Neither the media outlets nor The Associated Press could reach White for comment.