Virginia middle school student suspended for bringing gun to school

Damascus, VA, United States (4E) – A sixth grade student at the Damascus Middle School in Virginia has been suspended and charged with felony and misdemeanor Monday after school officials found a gun, ammunition and a knife in his backback.

According to the Washington County, Virginia school district superintendent Jim Sullivan, another student saw the shells and reported it to the teacher who then found an unloaded .22 caliber handgun in the student’s backpack.

School officials immediately sent an email to the parents explaining the incident and assuring them “that everyone at Damascus Middle School is safe, and this situation continues to be handled in an appropriate and careful manner.”

Sullivan noted that what happened is an example of the school district’s safety program working, saying “it encourages students to report. The slogan is say what you see, tell what you know, and that’s exactly what the student did.”

Sullivan explained that the school was not locked down because there was never any immediate danger.

He also said that after talking to the suspended boy, the first thing that was determined was that he had no intention of hurting anyone. He just did it for attention, added Sullivan.

The student is currently being held in the Highlands Juvenile Detention Center.

School policy declares that bringing a gun on school property would mean at least one year of expulsion.

A meeting this week with Washington County School officials will determine the student’s final status.

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