Teen arrested after taking unloaded gun to school

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 | 11:13 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. The student was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon, a gross 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 be determined.

"He (the student) said a man gave it to him and that's all he would say," Couthen said.

School police contacted the student's family and were told there were no weapons in the home, Couthen said.

Since the beginning of the academic year in August school police have confiscated 25 guns districtwide, Couthen said.

Monday's incident is not believed to be gang-related, Couthen said.

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. There were no reports of violence by Canarelli students toward staff.

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 said Monday's incident was "extremely unusual." Keller said she was glad one of her students had taken action to report the weapon to administrators.

"That's what we endorse here," Keller said, adding that Canarelli is in the midst of observing Peace Week activities. "Being extra alert and extra careful is the way to keep a safe campus."

Under the federal Gun-Free Schools Act, districts are required to recommend expulsion of a minimum of one year for students who bring weapons to school. Districts are also required to designate an administrator to review those cases and recommend modified punishments, as appropriate.

"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. "We're also required by law to consider his age, juvenile history if one exists, and his last 12 months in the school system."

A fourth grader at Twitchell Elementary School in Henderson was expelled for one semester in 2003 after taking a loaded gun out of his backpack and showing it to friends on the bus ride home from school.