The Antelope Valley Times

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Gun found in backpack at Lancaster middle school, student apprehended

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LANCASTER – A student was apprehended at a middle school in Lancaster Thursday morning after a handgun was found in the student’s backpack, officials said.

The incident was reported around 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at Gifford C. Cole Middle School, according to a news release from the Eastside Union School District.

“Administrators were notified that a student may have brought a weapon to school. School administrators immediately called the district’s assigned School Resource Officer through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and they conducted an investigation,” the news release states.

“Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and school officials searched the backpack of one student and found a handgun. The student was immediately apprehended for involvement in this matter,” the news release states.

No other students were identified as being involved, and no students or staff were injured in connection with the incident, according to the news release.

Information regarding the student’s age or gender was not disclosed.

A watch commander at Lancaster Sheriff’s Station confirmed that an incident took place at Gifford C. Cole Middle School on Thursday but released no further information, citing the “active ongoing investigation.”

“Eastside Union School District and school administrators wish to thank everyone for their concern and continued diligence. The safety of all our students and staff is our number one priority,” Superintendent Dr. Joshua L. Lightle stated in the news release.

UPDATE: The student, a 12-year-old boy, was detained for possession of a firearm on school grounds, according to a news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. Read it at: http://nixle.us/agmy4

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19 comments for "Gun found in backpack at Lancaster middle school, student apprehended"

  1. It is a good thing that Mayor Parris led us into spending $10 Million Tax Dollars on a piece of crap LEAPS that does nothing instead of using those Tax Dollars for programs in school and more Sherriff’s to interact with people.It is a good thing that Mayor Parris led us into spending $10 Million Tax Dollars on a piece of crap LEAPS that does nothing instead of using those Tax Dollars for programs in school and more Sherriff’s to interact with people.LEAPS is a joke.LEAPS is a joke.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS. Yes to Sherriff’s.Yes to Sherriff’s. More boots on the ground.More boots on the ground.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.

  3. The boy was living in a foster home, and had many previous troubles with the law. Theft and breaking and entering. The gun was taken from the home he lived in, belonged to a family member of the foster parent, they were unaware it was in the home. The days prior he broke into several homes in his neighborhood and was taken to the police station, hoping to scare him. Seems to be a cry for help. Pray that he gets love and support he needs to get back on track.

  6. well that’s just great. It’s an everyday thing now a days but this is to close to home as my son attends this school and their has been know notification to alert us parents of this happening… The whole thing of parents, students and schools working together means nothing if the school doesn’t notify us of this going on. Very Dissapointed !!!!

    • Apparently at least one parent is so careless as to allow their middle school aged offspring to get access to a handgun. I’d say the performance of parents is more disappointing than the performance of school in this event.

      • Let’s let the investigation be done before pointing fingers. It’s not always the parents. Could be an older sibling, gang related or a dozen other reasons. If it in fact was a careless parent or for that fact anyone else than legal corrective action needs to be taken.

        • I have to agree with Tim on this one. Yes, it could be a dozen other reasons, but ultimately The parents are responsible for their children, especially a child that is in middle school.

    • This school handled a potentially dangerous situation very well. No students or faculty harmed, and I agree with Tim’s comment.

    • Very true I also have a student that attends this school. It was less than 1 month ago that my student told me of anot her student pulling out a bbq guys after school and shooting someone with it. I doubt much was done because the student was seen at school the next day.

    • Sorry Lisa but I disagree. We all want to be informed when something happens that involves our children but priorities MUST take precedence. What should a school do when learning that there is a gun on campus? Type up an email or text to YOU or call 911? Whats next? Type up an email or text to YOU or start locking down classrooms and getting people safe?

      Informing you is VERY important but the situation needs to be secured first, and sometimes that can take hours.. especially when multiple agencies show up and it might take 30 min to decide who’s in charge.. (example, Sandy Hook, some kids would have lived had they just assumed it was one shooter and rushed in right away and got those kids medical attention.. But no.. lets take 45 min to do a sweep and make sure there is not a 2nd shooter, and so every kid bled out and died.)

  8. How do we know if that person’s friends are involved in it or not. I think the kids need to be questioned and see if there involved or knew about this situation. One of the friends can have one too.

  9. Handgun play during recess is part of the school district’s plan of getting more student engagement.