A 15-year-old male student was arrested after bringing a stolen BB-style gun into Thunder Mountain High School at midday Tuesday, with a quick response by officials preventing the need for a lockdown or other emergency action, according to police and school district officials.
Staff from TMHS notified the Juneau Police Department about the student at about 12:40 p.m., according to a JPD press release.
“The principal had immediately contacted the student, isolated him from others and the weapon was safely secured,” the release states.
Four JPD officers responded to the school and investigated the incident.
“It was determined that a 15-year-old male student had stolen a BB-style handgun out of a vehicle and walked into school with it,” the statement notes.
A bulletin by the Juneau School District notes “the student was cooperative as administrators investigated the situation and worked with law enforcement. It was determined that the item was a replica weapon.”
The student was detained at the Johnson Youth Center on two counts of fourth-degree assault in the fourth degree, one count of disorderly conduct, one count of second-degree criminal trespass in the second degree and one count of fourth-degree theft.
“Prompt reporting and quick action helped resolve the situation today with minimal disruption to the school day,” a school district’s bulletin notes. “Because the principal was able to immediately locate the student and secure the item, it was not necessary to take emergency action, such as lockdown. Classes were not disrupted and the school was safe during the investigation.”
The most recent report of a weapon at a Juneau school was April 13 when a 15-year-old student at Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé brought a firearm to school in his backpack. JDHS staff immediately located the student and JPD responded, with no threat by the student or disruption of normal school activities reported. The student was arrested on a charge of fourth-degree misconduct involving weapons.
Another report of a student with a weapon at JDHS occurred on Sept. 9, 2022. An alert was sent to parents and JPD officers conducted an investigation at the school, with the student suspected of having the weapon subsequently located off school grounds.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
