Skip to content

Boy expelled for bringing handgun on bus to Alderwood Middle School

March 24th, 2010, article by Megan Montplaisir

 An Alderwood Middle School student brought a gun to school last Thursday and was expelled Monday, according to Edmonds School District officials.

They said the boy made no threats to staff or other students and told investigators that he didn't intend to use it.

The boy showed the gun to other students on the school bus Thursday morning, according to Edmonds School District spokeswoman D.J. Jakala. One of the students told a parent that night, and the parent reported it to the middle school Friday morning. There were no students at the school Friday.

Jakala said that officials at the school, which is located in unincorporated Snohomish County east of Lynnwood, immediately phoned the Snohomish County sheriff's office to report the incident. Sheriff's deputies contacted the boy; they say he admitted he had brought the gun to school.

The boy was "emergency" expelled, temporarily removing him from school. Alderwood Principal Gary Axtell will decide, based on the student's disciplinary history, what happens from there. Jakala said that information is confidential.

School officials said they were concerned that the other students on the bus who saw the gun didn't report it to an adult at school that day.

Axtell sent a letter home to parents on Monday telling them about the incident and encouraging them to report similar incidents to school officials or to use the district tip line at 425-431-7010.

Jakala said any parent with concerns about how the school handled the incident is "strongly encouraged" to contact the principal.

© Seattle Times 2010

By: Lynn Thompson 206-464-8305