Kennewick, WA. – Official Release: Today Kennewick High School staff were alerted to a student who may have a firearm on school grounds. The School Resource officer and patrol units worked with staff to quickly remove the student from class and away from other students. It was determined the student had a realistic looking pellet gun replicating at .357 caliber revolver that is CO2 powered. The pellet gun was unloaded and in the student’s backpack.
There was no threat made by the student towards other students and the early investigation indicates the student intended to give it to another student. School Staff and Police will examine the reason behind this further. The 15-year-old student in this case was arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon on school grounds and booked in the Benton Franklin Juvenile Justice Center.
This is an important reminder there is no tolerance for anyone having weapons on school grounds. It is important for all to know it is against the law to possess a weapon on school grounds and could lead to arrest. Please continue to have discussions with your children about the expectations around school safety. We would encourage parents to have the tough conversation about the real consequences that can occur when this is ignored and the importance of having courage to report incidents to staff or police.
Our commitment to safety is at the forefront of our partnership with the Kennewick School District. We are grateful for the daily teamwork that leads to quick action during these incidents. This post is intended to provide transparency about a school incident and encourage discussion amongst the community that can lead to improved safety. We ask that all parents and students collaborate with us and KSD to continue to improve safety at all our schools and in the community.
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