INDIANAPOLIS — An unloaded gun was found Tuesday inside the locker of a student at Westlane Middle School.
In a letter to sent to parents Tuesday afternoon, Washington Township Schools said a teacher overheard a conversation about the gun and alerted administrators.
The student admitted to having the gun and turned it over without incident, the school district said.
Administrators put the gun in a secure place and contacted police.
The school district says possession of a handgun on school property requires a mandatory suspension and could result in a 365-day expulsion.
“Weapons are not allowed in our schools and possession of a handgun requires a mandatory suspension from school and a 365-day recommendation of expulsion per Indiana statute,” the school district said.
Read the full letter sent to parents below:
“During the school day today at Westlane Middle School an unloaded handgun was found inside of a student’s locker. A teacher observed a conversation that warranted an alert to administration who immediately investigated the situation. When questioned, the student admitted to having a handgun in their locker. At that time, the administration secured the handgun without incident and contacted law enforcement. Weapons are not allowed in our schools and possession of a handgun requires a mandatory suspension from school and a 365-day recommendation of expulsion per Indiana statute.
We remind parents to take this opportunity to speak to your child about the importance of school safety. While peer pressure is great at this age, we want to encourage students to feel comfortable reporting any information they may have that compromises their safety or the safety and well-being of others. Working together, we can maintain an environment where students are free to focus on learning.
Washington Township is working in full cooperation with IMPD and the Washington Township Schools Police Department.”
(Photo by m-gucci/Thinkstock.)
