14-Year-Old Arrested After He Brought BB Gun To Naugatuck HS

NAUGATUCK, CT — A 14-year-old Naugatuck High School student was arrested Friday morning after police and school officials found a BB gun in his backpack, according to authorities.

The discovery of the weapon was stemmed from a criminal investigation that Naugatuck police launched last week after learning of a fight that occurred at Salem Park on Oct. 20.

"During the fight, this same juvenile was alleged to have brandished a pistol," police wrote in a statement. "There were no reported injuries during that incident."

During the investigation, police learned of the circulation of a video of that altercation and the display of a suspected firearm during the incident, which led to Naugatuck High School’s School Resource Officer, Christopher Rinaldi, spearheading a search of the juvenile’s home.

The weapon was not found during that search, but further investigation resulted in Friday's arrest.

Police charged the juvenile, whose name was not released, with carrying the dangerous weapon, and he is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Juvenile Court at a later date.

"Naugatuck Police remind the community that there is no amount of training that can allow a police officer to determine the difference between these replica firearm BB guns and their functioning counterparts," police said, adding that the case highlighted the collaborative efforts of the community, school staff, and law enforcement. "These replica BB guns are a hazard to the public when used in criminal endeavors."