Boy suspended after bringing suspected BB gun to North Strabane Intermediate
Two students at North Strabane Intermediate School are being lauded for telling a teacher that a fellow student brought a gun to school Wednesday.
That student, a boy in sixth grade, was suspended after what was suspected to be a BB gun was found in a backpack at the school.
Two students told their teacher about 2:55 p.m. they had heard rumors the gun was in the boy’s locker. The teacher, in turn, reported the information to the school’s principal, Mark Abbondanza, said district Superintendent Michael Daniels.
Following the district’s policy, Abbondanza took steps to remove the student from the classroom, made sure everyone was safe and contacted Daniels and North Strabane Township police.
The boy’s locker was searched and a small, plastic BB-type gun was found in his backpack. Daniels said the gun was not loaded and no pellets were found in the bag or locker. Police Chief Brian Hughes described the gun as an Airsoft lookalike gun. Police took custody of the weapon.
Parents of students at the school were also immediately notified through email of the situation.
Hughes said officers conducted interviews with about eight other students as well as the boy who brought the gun to school.
“We were trying to formulate what happened and how it happened,” Hughes said. “After talking with the juvenile, we did a lot of follow-through investigation to see if anyone was threatened with the weapon.”
Hughes said the investigation is ongoing and it is undetermined whether charges will be filed.
“It was not the best move to bring it to school,” Hughes said.
Daniels said the school district takes the safety of the schools and students very serious.
“We took swift action to follow our safety protocol,” Daniels said. “Especially in light of the tragedy in Florida, safety remains our No. 1 priority.”
“I commend the students for reporting what they heard,” he added. “It is important if they see or hear something to say something.”
Daniels said Abbondanza talked with students during lunch Thursday about what had happened.
“He told them about the importance of being safe and the importance of safety as well as telling them to say something if they see something or hear something that does not look OK,” Daniels said. “We need to keep on heightened awareness to stay safe.”