Student had a BB gun at school
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 28, 2007 2:22 PM
A 12-year-old Norwayne Middle School student has been charged with possession of a weapon on school property after witnesses saw the youth dispose of a gun on the way home from school Wednesday.
Capt. Tom Effler of Wayne County Sheriff's Office said the incident occurred as the student exited the school bus.
"Kids saw him come off the bus, take it out of a backpack and throw it into a field" near N.C. 111 and Mount Carmel Church Road, he said. "It was a BB gun or something like it, but it looked real."
The gun was recovered by witnesses and the Sheriff's Office was called. When deputies responded, they interviewed the witnesses, who identified the black male youth. Deputies also questioned the youth.
The weapon was found to be an air soft handgun capable of firing a .24 caliber projectile. Effler described it as a pellet or BB-type gun.
Although it was not loaded, Effler said there was still cause for concern, since "it could still hurt someone."
The youth will be charged in the juvenile system, he said.
School officials said disciplinary measures will also be taken against the student at the school level.
Ken Derksen, public relations officer for Wayne County Public Schools, said the school's principal, Mario Re, had alerted parents of the incident on Thursday.
"Mr. Re spoke with students on the bus and sent home a letter to parents of students on that bus, to let them know that it had been taken care of," he said.