DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 497 officials are investigating after a 14-year-old was reported with a gun at school.
On Monday morning, officials locked down Lawrence High School, 1901 Louisiana Street, and the School Resource Officer (SRO) immediately began searching for the student while the school was locked down, according to a media release from police.
An SRO and school security officer located the suspect student re-entering the school as it was locked down, but he was not in possession of a firearm, and denied having brought one to school.
Due to the numerous students that reported seeing a firearm, officers believed the student had ditched the firearm prior to being contacted, and began working to retrace the student’s steps to locate it while the school remained locked down.
Officers on scene determined the firearm was likely left in Veteran’s Park, 1840 Louisiana Street, and began checking the area.
Realizing the item would soon be found, the student then informed officers he had ditched a pellet gun in the park and told them where to find it.
The pellet gun, which closely resembled a pistol, was recovered in a bush in the park. Once the pellet gun was recovered, the lock down at the school was lifted.
The student, who did not provide a specific reason for bringing a pellet gun to school, was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center for processing.
Police thanked the students who reported this incident to school staff, as well as our relationship with USD 497 that allows situations like this to be addressed immediately by the Resource Officers in the school.