Police: Student With BB Gun At School, On Bus Charged

NORWICH, CT—A middle school student brought a gun onto a school bus in Norwich Wednesday, school officials said. It was later learned that it was a BB-style gun without its ammunition, but the incident brought police, an investigation and forced the cancellation of the school's planned open house.

School officials never said the gun was inside the school. Police determined it was. An a student was arrested and charged.

Late in the afternoon, schools officials said that all Norwich Teachers' Memorial Global Studies Magnet Middle School families were notified immediately via phone and email and a follow-up call was made once there was more information. The notice was posted on Twitter, Facebook and the schools' website.

Two separate posts from Norwich Public Schools on Facebook, the first late Wednesday afternoon, notified families that school officials received a report that a Teachers' Magnet Middle School student "may have brought a gun (or an object with the likeness or facsimile of a gun) on the afternoon bus. By the time the concern was reported to us the students had already departed the afternoon bus and the bus was empty."

School officials said they "immediately contacted" Norwich Police saying the district takes "any report of a possible weapon extremely seriously."

School officials wrote that police searched the empty bus and no gun was found but were going to the home of the student suspected of having the weapon.

In the meantime, school officials assured families that "all students and faculty remain safe. We will keep you updated as the situation unfolds."

Not long after, a second post came from the schools saying that police had located the gun, which turned out to be a "BB gun with no BBs inside."

And while saying the matter was now a police one, added that on Thursday, police will be at the school "out of an abundance of caution."

But after Patch reached out to Norwich police, a press release was sent that explained that police said the student "brought a firearm to school and later displayed it on a school bus." Sgt. Nicholas Rankin said witnesses provided the name of the student along with photo evidence. Officers responded to the residence where they discovered the firearm in question to be a realistic looking BB gun. Officers arrested the student and seized the BB gun. It's not clear if the student was male or female and what grade they are in. They were charged with second-degree breach of peace, possession of a weapon on school grounds and carrying a dangerous weapon

Rankin said the "student and family members were cooperative and apologetic for any alarm caused."

He said "no threats were made at any time to the school or students."

Rankin commended the "bravery of the student who brought this forward and praise the diligence of school faculty and staff."

"This level of cooperation and concern for our community is invaluable in bringing incidents of this nature to swift and desirable conclusions," he said.

Norwich Public Schools reminded families and students, "if you see or hear of any potential threat, that you notify the police and school immediately. The safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to us."

And the planned Open House was canceled.