W.V. pupil arrested, 4 suspended in gun incident

WEST VALLEY CITY — A Hunter Junior High School student was arrested Tuesday by West Valley police after allegedly bringing a gun to school.

In addition, four other students were suspended for knowing about the weapon but not reporting it immediately to police or school administrators.

The student, whose age was not released Wednesday, allegedly brought a small-caliber semiautomatic gun to school, 6131 W. 3785 South, Monday for protection, West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan said.

The student claimed he had been harassed recently by another student, McLachlan said.

He only brought one bullet to school, he said.

The student showed the gun to three of his friends and one other classmate, said Granite School District spokesman Randy Ripplinger.

Tuesday, an acquaintance of the student who wasn't close friends with him reported the gun to school administrators.

Police were called and pulled the boy out of class, McLachlan said. They went back to the boy's house where they said he showed them the gun he had brought to school the day before.

In addition to being booked into juvenile detention for investigation of bringing a weapon to school, the student was also arrested for investigation of making threats. He reportedly threatened to get back at the boy who was bullying him while showing off the gun to his friends, McLachlan said.

Tuesday, three students who did not report the gun immediately were suspended and referred to the district for further discipline, Ripplinger said.

The fourth student, who reported the gun, was given a short suspension. Although Ripplinger could not say how long the suspensions were for, he said district policy allows the principal to suspend a student for up to three days. Any suspensions that are longer have to go through the district.

"We have to underscore to students who see weapons the importance of immediately reporting them," Ripplinger said.

Ripplinger said almost every time he has watched the news and seen a story on a violent incident at a school somewhere in the country, there always seemed to be someone who said later they knew of the weapon beforehand.

"To delay reporting it not only extends danger to rest of students and faculty, but it also makes it dangerous to the person not reporting it," he said. "It's creating a more dangerous situation by not reporting it immediately."

The student who allegedly made the original threats to the one who brought the gun to school was also being investigated, McLachlan said.

McLachlan said the gun belong to the boy's parents, who were out of town when he took it. The boy was being watched by an adult brother who was unaware the gun was taken, McLachlan said.

The boy apparently didn't even know how to load the gun, he said.

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