Tuesday, April 5, 2005 | 9:32 a.m.
An eighth grader at Canarelli Middle School was arrested Monday after bringing an unloaded handgun with him to campus.
The 14-year-old boy, who was not identified, faces automatic expulsion under the district's regulations and federal public school safety laws.
School officials were tipped off by another student that the 14-year-old had the .25-caliber handgun in his backpack, said Darnell Couthen, spokesman for the school police.
The arrest occurred at about 9:30 a.m. at the school and the student was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon, a misdemeanor, Couthen said.
No bullets were found in the backpack, Couthen said. School police are investigating the student's motive for bringing the gun to school. The ownership of the gun is still to be determined.
"He (the student) said a man gave it to him and that's all he would say," Couthen said.
The incident is not believed to be gang-related.
Canarelli, in the 7800 block of S. Torrey Pines Drive at West Robindale Road, suspended six students for violence against other students in the 2003-04 academic year, according to school district records.
During the same period no weapons of any kind were reported at Canarelli, compared with 79 guns confiscated districtwide, according to the latest accountability report
Canarelli Principal Kristy Keller could not be immediately reached for comment.
Under the federal Gun-Free Schools Act, districts are required to recommend expulsion of a minimum of one year for schools who bring weapons to school.
"I want to hear what he (the Canarelli student) has to say, why he brought the gun, where he got the gun and what he planned to do with the gun," Edward Goldman, associate superintendent of education services and the administrator designate to review weapons cases.
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