From Deseret News archives:
St. George police questioning how teen got gun
Tucker Thayer was on the tech crew preparing for a production of the musical "Oklahoma!" and was apparently handling a .38-caliber handgun to be used in the play.
"The people that put on the play got permission to have an adult bring the gun in a locked box to school in a monitored situation," St. George Police Sgt. James Van Fleet said Monday. "We're trying to figure out how much access he had to it, what level of adult supervision was in place or should have been in place."
Van Fleet said he did not believe anyone would be cited in connection with the accident.
The Washington County School District said in a statement Monday it is "troubled about the accessibility and use of an operable firearm on school property."
"The district's ultimate concern is for the safety and education of our children. An investigation is under way in this case. The district will carefully consider our policies and procedures that apply in light of this tragic situation and take appropriate administrative action to ensure the safety of our students and staff," the statement said.
The gun, which was loaded with blanks, fired about 6:20 p.m. Saturday. At such close proximity, Van Fleet said the blank, which is made with powder, cardboard and plastic, could still be deadly.
"When the gun is fired, it fires just like a normal gun," he said. "The gun was so close to his head that when it went off" it was deadly, Van Fleet said.
Thayer was inside the sound booth at the school, and no one witnessed the accident, police said.
Thayer's family told KSL-TV a real gun should not have been allowed in the school.
"He had a heart of gold, and he would do anything for you," neighbor Brett Jensen told the TV station. "And if you asked him for help, he'd bend over backward to get it done."
Crisis counselors were on hand Monday at Desert Hills High School to help students and staff.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
