Student to remain in custody after bringing gun to Washington High School

by Dustin Grove (grove@wsbt.com)

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A Washington High School student is in custudy after being caught at school with an automatic 25-caliber handgun on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Feb 13, 2008 at 5:35 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 13, 2008 at 5:41 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — Another student is suspended and behind bars after bringing a gun to school. In South Bend, it's the second time this school year.

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It happened Tuesday morning at Washington High School. The teenager appeared in court for the first time Wednesday.

Police say he had violated the school's uniform policy. But once inside the dean's office, breaking the dress code was the least of his problems.

"They took him to the dean's office and it was later determined that he had an automatic 25-caliber handgun in his front pocket,” explained Capt. Phil Trent of the South Bend Police Department.

The student was immediately suspended and police were called to arrest him.

Wednesday, inside the Juvenile Justice Center, a court magistrate decided to keep the teen behind bars while prosecutors consider filing formal charges, calling his actions "detrimental to him, the community, and the school corporation at large."

The gun wasn't loaded, but police say it's possible the student may have brought it to school to threaten someone.

This week's incident comes less than two months after an 11-year-old student brought a loaded gun to Greene Intermediate School.

Three others students, including 14-year-old Cody Long, were also disciplined for handling the gun.

"I just learned you gotta make the right decision,” Cody told WSBT News in an interview on February 5. “You gotta think before you act."

That’s a message authorities say too many children aren't hearing.

No formal charges were filed against this student, and we still don't know why he brought it to school or where he got it. But we've learned he has been suspended and possibly could be expelled from school.

Thursday there will be a presentation at Greene Intermediate to talk to the students about how important it is to tell someone if they see a student with a gun. One board member says they don't normally do these presentations for students so young, but she said it has to be done.

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