Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Bullet locks down high school
Trying to get out of school, student allegedly tells police
By Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
BARRE— A 17-year-old sophomore who allegedly told police he left a bullet in the school cafeteria to get out of classes early could face four felony charges, Chief Erik J. Demetropoulos said.
The discovery of a live .22-caliber Magnum round sent Quabbin Regional Middle High School into lockdown at about 12:20 p.m. yesterday. Students were held in their classrooms when the lockdown was announced, and parents were notified of the situation using an automated calling system, School Superintendent Sue M. Gee said.
“We followed our safety protocols,” Ms. Gee said. “The five towns have a safety plan that includes mobilization of police from all the towns.”
The district serves Hardwick, Barre, Oakham, Hubbardston and New Braintree. Police from those towns, along with officers from East Brookfield and North Brookfield and the state police barracks in Brookfield, rushed to the school, blocking the entrances and assisting in the investigation.
Ms. Gee said a dean of students was made aware of the bullet and notified the principal, who then called her. She said the bullet was the only item initially found, though another was located after the student allegedly confessed.
“There were no threats, no note and no indication of any gun or any weapon,” she said.
Chief Demetropoulos said teachers provided a list of students who had been sitting in the area where the bullet was found following a high school lunch period. Officers began interviewing those students and eventually one of them confessed that he’d intentionally left the bullet behind. He had hoped the discovery would lead to the dismissal of classes but instead students were held well beyond their regular hours and were not allowed to leave until about 4:30 p.m.
“He said he didn’t intend to cause anyone harm,” the chief said. “I’ve heard of a lot of ways to try to get out of school, but I’ve never heard of this.”
During the lockdown, students’ lockers were searched and they were escorted to and from restrooms. Cell phones were seized from those who had brought them to class, one student said. Some students played board games or cards, while others watched the situation unfold on television or the Internet. Not all the students knew why the school was locked down, Ms. Gee said.
It is the first time such an incident has taken place at the school, Ms. Gee said. A drill was being planned so that faculty and students could learn the lockdown procedures but it had not yet taken place.
Ms. Gee said the staff will be “debriefed” and the incident used to help in future planning.
Chief Demetropoulos said he plans to consult with the Worcester district attorney’s office today to determine how to proceed in the case. He said police are taking the matter very seriously and that felony charges could be filed. The student was not arrested, he said.
Ms. Gee said the student will not be welcome at the school today and there will be a police presence, though she expects “things will return to normal.”
Chief Demetropoulos said that a person must have a firearm identification card to possess ammunition. It is possible for a 17-year-old to have the license, the chief said, but it is illegal to bring weapons and ammunition onto school property. He said he does not believe the suspect in yesterday’s incident is licensed.
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