By Justin Schneider, Herald Bulletin Online Reporter/Manager
ANDERSON, Ind. — Anderson police recovered a gun from Highland High School on Monday morning after students reported a classmate was armed.
Anderson Community Schools Superintendent Felix Chow said the gun was found unloaded and was never fired during the incident.
“Luckily, other students saw the weapon and reported it, so we took action immediately,” Chow said. “The police are here and they have found the students who brought the gun to school.”
Anderson police reported to Highland shortly after 7 a.m. Monday after witnesses reported a 15-year-old male student had threatened another male student with a semiautomatic handgun.
Chow said the school was locked down briefly, but students had returned to their classes by 9:45 a.m. Chow declined to identify the students involved, pending a police investigation.
Anderson Police Department Detective Mitch Carroll, public information officer, said the conflict between the students stemmed from the alleged theft of a mobile phone last week. The dispute triggered a physical altercation over the weekend.
“The 15-year-old student brought the unloaded gun with him on the bus, and, once at the school, threatened the victim before handing the weapon to another student,” Carroll said. “The gun was briefly concealed in a locker.”
Carroll said the suspect will be charged with a juvenile count of carrying a handgun on school property and intimidation. Criminal charges are also pending against two additional juveniles who helped hide the gun.
