11-year-old arrested for bringing gun to Pierce County middle school, PCSO says
A student has been taken to a juvenile detention center after he brought a gun to a Graham middle school this morning, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
Carly Cappetto, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, told The News Tribune that the student – an 11-year-old boy who goes to Liberty Middle School – brought the gun on a bus this morning. She said security staff told Pierce County School Resource Officers at about 7:51 a.m.
“It was learned that another student riding the bus with the suspect student saw the gun in his backpack and immediately reported it to a staff member,” Cappetto wrote. “The student was quickly detained and separated from his backpack by campus security. Once SRO units arrived, they located a Sig .380 in his backpack with no magazine and a single loose bullet.”
Cappetto said the student found the key to a family member’s safe. Law enforcement arrested the boy and took him to Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center.
“[Police] will be working with the family to secure or remove other weapons in the home,” Cappetto wrote.
In an email to parents, principal Seth Humphrey praised the student who alerted authorities.
“Because of their responsibility and courage, our staff were able to intervene quickly and handle the situation effectively, ensuring the safety of our school community,” Humphrey wrote. “This incident serves as an important reminder that weapons of any kind are not tolerated on school property. Please take time to speak with your students about the importance of reporting suspicious or concerning behavior to a trusted adult.”
