Charlottesville police say charges are forthcoming following a confrontation between students at Buford Middle School in which at least one child was threatened with a gun, according to Lt. Gary Pleasants.
Pleasants said several Buford students were involved in the incident, in which a student from Kate Collins Middle School in Waynesboro was assaulted.
A BB gun was pulled on the child as Kate Collins students were loading a bus following a boys basketball game, he said.
Police received word that two BB guns were involved in the incident, though only one has been recovered, Pleasants said.
The Buford students were suspended from school and charges will be filed when a police investigation has concluded, he said.
“We’re very serious about student safety and I think actions taken after the incident reflect on this,” said Buford Middle School’s principal, Eric Johnson. “We’re following protocol outlined in our code of conduct. The Charlottesville Police Department is still fulfilling its investigation. We will work with them and hopefully find some resolution to this.”
Pleasants said he was pleased with the way his department and the school responded.
“We got on the incident right away and the school immediately became involved and has taken the steps that needed to be taken,” Pleasants said. “When something like this does occur, we need people to tell us right away so we can take action to prevent things like this in the future.”
Johnson said he believes Buford is a safe place for students, despite the incident.
“I don’t want anyone in the community to think the actions of a few students represent the beliefs or actions of so many other students and staff that attend school each day,” he said. “What happened was very unfortunate.”
Robin Crowder, superintendent of schools in Waynesboro, did not return a phone call from The Daily Progress seeking comment for this story.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement