Tulsa Student Detained On Suspicion Of Possessing Airsoft Pistol At School

A 12-year-old Nathan Hale Middle School student was taken in custody after police say he brought an Airsoft pistol to school.

Police were called to Hale Middle School, located on S. 67th E. Ave., a little after 2 p.m. after a student texted 911 about a shooter or a person with a gun inside the school.

Police said the student, a 13-year-old girl, noticed a 12-year-old seventh-grade student with a pistol and notified authorities. Police said the student provided a good description of the suspect and authorities were able to locate him.

That seventh grader has been detained, police said. The weapon was confirmed by police to be an Airsoft pistol.

"Here's a student who was very aware of what was going on around the school. Anybody would've perceived this to be a pistol because it looks like it," said Captain Richard Meulenberg with Tulsa Police. "This student did an outstanding job, did everything to let us know. Thankfully she had her phone to give us a call and notify us of the situation because had it been a real pistol, who knows how it would've turned out differently. She didn't do anything wrong."

As police were trying to figure out what was going on, there was a line of parents coming into the school to try to pick up their kids.

A parent who spoke with News On 6 said she arrived at the school and was concerned when she saw the police presence.

"I was heading to my school to get my daughter because she was saying she was sick and not feeling well," said parent Marthena Gibson. "So I get up here and there's a bunch of cops and it just made me really concerned and freaked out. I wasn't really sure what was going on."

Gibson said as a parent, events like this are making her reconsider public schools for her child.

"It's really concerning and makes me want to keep my kid at home and keep her homeschooled honestly," Gibson said. "You really don't know what the day will consist of."

Tulsa Police say they will be working with Tulsa Public Schools to determine what will happen next for the student with the gun.

Police say it’s important they take all threats seriously and it's a good reminder for people who see something, to say something.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.