How Did Hinsdale South Student Get Gun?

DARIEN, IL – A 16-year-old Willowbrook boy shocked the Hinsdale South community in November when police said he brought a gun on campus.

The boy was arrested on felony charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in public and unlawful possession of a firearm under 18.

In public statements at the time, authorities did not say where the youth got the weapon, which was described as a 9mm Taurus GX-4 handgun.

Patch asked Darien police about it on Monday.

In response, Police Chief Greg Thomas said the gun was stolen somewhere else in DuPage County and that sheriff's detectives reached out to the victim.

"It appears she does not want to pursue criminal complaints against the offender," the chief said in an email.

At the time, police said the student carried the loaded gun late the morning of Nov. 21 during a routine visit to the dean's office.

After the gun was found, the school was temporarily put on a "hold in place" order, meaning students stayed in class without changing rooms.

In a public forum days later, parents demanded greater security measures at the school.

After the incident, South checked students for weapons checks daily through the end of the semester. Starting in January, both Hinsdale South and Central deployed their weapons detection systems on random days.