A Springfield Public Schools official says “no deliberate threat” is evident from a Friday morning incident in which a gun inadvertently discharged inside a student’s backpack.
Update: 5:19 p.m. Friday:
Police Spokeswoman Lisa Cox says that 17-year-old Skye Tanski has been arrested in connection to the incident. Tanski has been booked into the jail and will be released. Cox says that charges will be presented to the prosecutor when the investigation is completed, and noted that more arrests are possible.
Original story continues below:
Spokesperson Teresa Bledsoe says the backpack was on the floor in the Central High School Commons Area when it went off. No injuries were reported. The shot went off around 11:15 a.m. in between classes. It was not clear how many students were in the area at the time.
“They contained the immediate area as soon as possible and then began questioning students and began their investigation,” Bledsoe said.
Classes continued as usual following the incident. No lockdown order was given. School security notified the Springfield Police Department between 11:30 and 11:40 a.m.
Police Spokeswoman Lisa Cox tells KSMU that three students, ages 17 years or above, were brought to police headquarters for questioning. Two female students have since been released, while a male student was still in the process of being questioned as of 3:30 p.m. No arrests have been made.
The weapon in question was a pistol, according to Cox. She would not comment on if there were any remaining bullets inside the gun, or if anyone has taken ownership of it.
Possession of a weapon on school district property is prohibited. Discipline could include suspension.
Springfield Public Schools does not have metal detectors at its schools. Bledsoe says there is no routine examination of students’ backpacks as they enter the building.
“We’re certainly thankful that on one was injured and that students and staff were safe. This is just a reminder to everyone that we need to be alert and if students see anything or hear anything or are aware that another student might have a weapon then they need to report it so it can be investigated and found possibly before something like this happens,” Bledsoe said.
An AlertNow message was sent to parents explaining situation, and then a follow-up email. A letter was to also go home with students Friday, Bledsoe said.