According to Williamson County paperwork obtained by FOX 7, on Tuesday morning, an East View staff member overheard the students in the locker room talking about the gun.
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A trainer at the high school saw a student with a gun when he walked into the boy’s locker room at the school Tuesday, officials have previously said. Police said the gun that was seized was a black Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm semi-automatic handgun and that 11 Luger 9mm rounds were “resting next to a 12 round magazine belonging to the handgun”.
He was arrested by the school’s resource officer and the gun, along with ammunition, was removed by the authorities, the TV station notes. However, Guerrero said he did see a bright flashlight when another student was trying to hide something in a nearby locker.
School officials, community leaders and students appeared at a press conference Wednesday to get this message across, WCCO reports, saying they will not tolerate any type of violence, threats, or gangs within schools.
“We are taking a stand today to address the symptoms and stop the violence in our schools before it starts”, said the district’s interim superintendent Michael Goar.
Minneapolis Police Department, MPS, and the Mayor’s Youth Violence Prevention Blueprint launched an anonymous youth tip-line called “Speak Up Minneapolis” that allows kids to report potential violence including weapons in schools, parks, libraries or other locations. Police say they’re investigating how the students came into possession of the gun.
“I am pretty shocked”, student Ashton Lofton said.
Promoting positive learning environments for students begins with ensuring the schools are safe, MPS said.
Last week at Harding High School in St. Paul, an assistant principal searched a student’s backpack for marijuana and found a loaded.22-calibre handgun.
That 15-year-old student who tried to hide the gun was arrested and charged with places weapons prohibited.
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Goar said the the “Not in our Schools” campaign will be in all Minneapolis high schools.
