By Kesshia Peyton Anchor/Reporter
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Published: Tue, April 08, 2008 - 4:31 pm
Last Updated: Thu, August 14, 2008 - 5:21 pm
Kesshia Peyton
New 5 viewers have debated on wkrg.com whether the gun a student brought to Clark School of Math, Science and Technology on Monday was loaded or not.
As we reported earlier, Mobile County school officials say the gun, found in the student's book bag, was loaded.
The child's mother contacted News 5 to say school officials were misinformed. She says her son had the gun and a loaded clip in his book bag, but claims the clip was never in the gun.
News 5 investigated her claims. Chickasaw police could not confirm whether the loaded clip was ever in fact in the gun. But Sgt. Gerald Thornton said it doesn't matter. As far as the law is concerned, a loaded clip is the same thing as a loaded gun.
Other viewers said the student would've automatically been charged with a felony, if the gun had been loaded. Not true says Thornton. Possession of a fire arm on school grounds is not an automatic felony. Thornton said the student would only be charged with a felony if he had a prior record.
12:15 p.m. Wednesday
New 5 viewers have debated on wkrg.com whether the gun a student brought to Clark School of Math, Science and Technology on Monday was loaded or not. Mobile County school officials put the debate to rest. Spokesperson Nancy Pierce says the gun, found in the student's book bag, was loaded. Click here to listen to bonus sound from Tuesday's interview.
Click here to read a copy of the letter sent home to parents on Tuesday.
5:31 p.m. Tuesday
An eighth grade student at Clark School of Math, Science, and Technology in Chickasaw has been arrested for bringing a loaded gun to school.
School officials say the gun belongs to the child's father.
Several classmates found out that the child had the gun.. and alerted teachers.
In a letter to parents, the school's principal said the student hid the gun in his backpack.
News 5 was told the school did not go into lockdown because there was no immediate danger.
One parent told News 5 that the school should have told them about what happened yesterday...not today.
"If I hadn't called, If my son hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have known. I wouldn't known. I would've thought it had just been a normal day," said parent Demetria Clark.
"This is something we may have to figure out a better way to handle to let parents know, how soon to let parents know, etcetera," said Mobile County Public School System spokesperson Nancy Pierce.
The student has been arrested and won't be allowed to return..
School officials say the student hasn't had any past disciplinary problems.
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This story is posted with many inaccuracies. First the student in question never had a loaded gun. That is a complete false statement. The gun was not loaded, period. Second, the student also never showed anyone in the school the gun. I suggest in the future you check your sources more carefully. I personally know the student and her son (lady in the story) is definately not a friend of the student and he did not show it to him. You really need to be a little more responsible in your reporting because when you report things that are inaccurate it is very hurtful to the people involved. This student was a very good kid who made good grades and caused no trouble. He made a very bad decision but was definately no danger to anyone.