Teen Arrested For Bringing A Gun To School

Thursday, April 19th 2007, 12:41 pm

By: News On 6

A South Tulsa 8th grader is arrested for bringing a gun to school. Authorities say the 13-year-old Byrd Middle School student hid the handgun and brought it into class. The News On 6â€™s Heather Lewin reports an observant student alerted the teacher.

School officials say the students were taking a test around 10:30 Thursday morning when a child handed the teacher a note saying another boy in class had a gun. Quickly and quietly, administrators pulled the boy out of class. After a physical search of the boy they found a .22 caliber handgun.

School officials are calling it a textbook security operation. Since the weapon was isolated authorities felt there was no reason to cause panic and chose to let the day continue as usual.

"The other students, nobody was aware of it at the school at all," said Tulsa Public School Safety and Security Coordinator Bob Currington.

The school did not go into lockdown.

"At this point, from what I know about the investigation, I don't feel they were in any danger at all," Currington said.

Although the gun was unloaded, ammunition was found in the boy's locker, so the situation could've been much worse. School officials say it was resolved exactly according to plan.

So far this year, two other TPS students have been suspended for bringing weapons to school. Last year officials say the number was more surprising at 11. Although some of those involved one weapon tied to more than one child.

What teachers say is remarkable about this incident is the other student who was willing to alert the teacher.

"With the tremendous peer pressure that we have today that kids face, that can't be understated, this kid was truly a hero in coming forward and reporting the weapon at school," Graden Napier, Dean of Students said.

The principal sent home a letter to students explaining the situation and saying Tulsa police thought the gun wouldn't even work. Officials say the student didn't give a reason for having the gun. He will likely be charged with possession of a firearm on a school campus and be suspended for one calendar year.

Authorities are investigating whether any other students were involved.

Related story:

4/19/2007 Parents Respond To Middle School Gun Incident

For the e-clip of this story click here.