Grand Rapids Public Schools security officers confiscated an unloaded gun from a student at Burton Middle School Tuesday afternoon.
A student approached a GRPS security officer during the lunch period to report that a student was in possession of a handgun.
School security isolated the student immediately and determined that the student was indeed carrying an unloaded handgun. A magazine and ammunition for the weapon were recovered in one of the student’s bags.
Burton Middle and Elementary schools were put into “shelter in place” mode so the matter could be addressed outside of the presence of others.
There were no reports that the student involved made any threats toward others and the individual cooperated once approached by school security.
“This underscores the message we drive home to our scholars all the time. ‘When you see something, say something’,” said Larry Johnson, GRPS Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Public Safety and School Security. “Thanks to the wherewithal of one of our scholars, we were able to intervene immediately and address this matter before anyone was hurt.”
The student carrying the weapon was taken into custody by the Grand Rapids Police Department. That individual will be addressed according to school disciplinary procedures and the law.
A letter was sent home to the parents of scholars at Burton Middle and Elementary schools.
Anyone with information involving a weapon or violence at any school can contact Silent Observer at (616)774-2345 or call/text (855)5-OK2SAY. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Parent/Guardian Letter
October 25, 2022
Dear Parent/Guardian(s):
I am writing to inform you about an incident that involved the confiscation of a weapon from one of our students.
During the middle school lunch period, one of our scholars informed school security that another student was in possession of a gun.
Grand Public Schools security officers immediately located and isolated the student and determined that the individual was in possession of a handgun. While the weapon was not loaded, a magazine and ammunition for the weapon was located in one of the student’s bags.
We want to commend our security staff for handling this situation in a matter of minutes. The school building was put into a “shelter in place” status to allow officials the space needed to handle the situation outside of the presence of others.
The student in possession of the weapon was taken into custody by the Grand Rapids Police Department. That individual will be addressed according to school disciplinary policy and the law.
There were no reports that the student involved made any threats and the individual involved cooperated with school security once approached.
Please use this as an opportunity to remind your scholars of the importance of reporting any concern about weapons or violence to an adult immediately just as our scholar did in this case.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at (616) 819-2262 (elementary school) or (616) 819-2269 (middle school) by email NelsonA@grps.org or PerezM@grps.org.
Sincerely,
Michael Perez
Middle School Principal
Amarena Nelson
Elementary School Principal
