Law enforcement personnel arrested a high school student for bringing a "realistic-looking" airsoft gun to Braintree High School in Massachusetts.
Police said that one student at Braintree High School told the school resource officer that he saw another student carrying a handgun. Braintree police and school staff quickly identified the 17-year-old boy, who was described as "cooperative," and found a "realistic-looking airsoft-type pistol in the student's coat."
Student Arrested for Bringing "Realistic-Looking" Airsoft Gun
In a statement, Braintree Schools Superintendent Tim MacDonald said that they were very fortunate that an individual quickly spoke up about the incident and alerted the appropriate authorities. He said that it was a "very serious incident" as school was in session at the time the student was seen with what looked like a firearm.
The student who had the airsoft gun was arrested by police, who said that he resisted arrest at the police station and tried to run during questioning. Despite the development, officials have not yet released the student's name, according to WCVB.
In a release, police said that the incident serves as an important reminder of the effectiveness of school safety protocols and the crucial role of collaboration between school staff and law enforcement. It added that the development underscores the value of trust and communication between those students, staff, and school resource officers in maintaining a safe and secure school environment.
The high school student who was arrested was later arraigned in the juvenile session at Quincy District Court on charges of carrying a dangerous weapon on school property, minor in possession of an airsoft/BB gun, resisting arrest, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
A Very Serious Incident
Police said that when the other student reported seeing the suspect in possession of what seemed like a gun, the school went under a shelter-in-place. This was so that police and school staff could approach the individual in question, Boston reported.
There was a similar incident involving a student at Legacy of Educational Excellence (LEE) High School who was arrested after a gun was found in his backpack. After the incident, authorities sent an email to families, with North East ISD saying that campus administrators received a report that a student on campus "possibly had a gun."
The district noted that administrators and the North East Police Department immediately identified and located the student in question. He was then apprehended, and when officers searched his backpack, they found a gun, leading to the student's arrest, as per KENS5.
