Law enforcement agents from the Childersburg Police Department and the Talladega County Sheriff’s Department responded to principal Jay Hook’s call reporting a student had a BB gun on campus.
Talladega County Board of Education public information director Gail Jones said the police and county responded within six minutes. “We are pleased with the relationship we have with Childersburg and county law enforcement,” she said.
Hook’s immediately issued a lock-down order. Law enforcement agents confronted the student who said he threw the BB gun in the woods. After a search of the area, no BB gun was found but a search of the building found the gun in a shoe in a locker.
The BB gun realistically resembles a semi-automatic handgun. The student brought the gun in a backpack. All firearms on public school campuses are illegal.
Childersburg Police Detective Doug Wesson said the offense was serious anytime you bring a gun on campus. “It’s a terroristic threat,” he said.
The juvenile was released to his parents and will appear in court next Tuesday.
Jones said it was fortunate the student chose the last day of school. “Classes hadn’t started because semester exams are being given,” Jones said. “Not all students were present.
“Everyone did what they were supposed to do. We have safety measures and everybody responded as they should,” she said.
“We hope students will make good choices, but sometimes they don’t,” Jones said.
Contact Mark Ledbetter at mledbetter@dailyhome.com
