Student Brings Loaded Gun To School In Island Lake
Updated 03/05/12 - 5:26 p.m.
ISLAND LAKE (CBS) -- A far northwest suburban school was on lockdown for several hours Monday morning, after a middle school student brought a loaded gun to school.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports the gun-toting student at Matthews Middle School in Island Lake is being charged with three felonies: disorderly conduct, reckless conduct, and unlawful use of a weapon. Authorities refused to disclose the student's name or age.
School officials said the student was caught after he showed the gun to two classmates, who then notified the school staff.
Dozens of anxious parents rushed to Matthews to take their kids home, after a student brought a loaded, .25-caliber handgun to school.
Student Shannon Peat said the experience "scared me a little bit – like a lot, kind of – and everybody was, like, freaking out. And it was just, glad it's over."
Classmate Trevor Tobias said, "They said that somebody brought a gun to school. They didn't tell us what it was, or what kind it was, which kind of freaked me out.
The student was caught after he showed the pistol to two other students, who reported the incident to school staff.
School Supt. Daniel Coles said, "The student was asked to empty his pockets. The student did, in fact, have a loaded gun.
The school day began at 7:45 a.m. By 8:15 a.m., the gun had been recovered, the student had been detained and the school had been placed on lockdown, as police used search dogs to scour the building.
No other weapons were found, and the lockdown was lifted at 11:10 a.m., but the school didn't notify parents with emails and voice mails until 12:20 p.m.
Some parents were angry about being left in the dark so long.
Jaunine Moore said, "Couldn't they have got on the phone an hour after they had this person detained and then called the parents and told them what was going on? You know what I mean? So, we at least know our kids were safe, but no, we had to hear it on your news that something happened at our school. That's ridiculous.
Cole said, "The first and foremost job of everyone present is to secure the safety of the students and staff. The notification, that comes after that."
Police said they don't know why the student brought the gun to school, or if he intended to use it.
Counselors will be on duty Tuesday for students who need them.
