A male student at Nome-Beltz Middle High School was taken into custody Tuesday morning after bringing an unloaded firearm to campus, according to Nome Public Schools Superintendent Jamie Burgess.
In a letter addressed to the community of Nome, Burgess said the incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. after students alerted school administrators that another student had brought a firearm to school. The Nome Police Department was contacted immediately and two officers responded to the scene.
Officer Dylan Howard with the Nome Police Department confirmed to KNOM that the weapon involved was an unloaded handgun that was recovered from the student's pant pocket. No ammunition was found on the student's person, backpack or locker.
Howard said the student's parents were notified and that he has since been turned over to a juvenile probation officer.
"Nobody got injured. There was no use of force. Between contact with the school, the parents, and the police department, everything was as smooth as we could ask for," Howard said.
Burgess' letter said the district would proceed with disciplinary action in accordance with Alaska state law. According to Alaska Statute 14.03.160, a student who knowingly possesses a firearm on school grounds is subject to an automatic expulsion for at least one calendar year. The statute allows the school district’s chief administrator to modify the length of the expulsion on a case-by-case basis.
In addition to school discipline, the student may also face criminal charges under Alaska Statute 11.61.220, which prohibits misconduct involving weapons in the fourth degree, including possession of a weapon in a school building.
Burgess thanked both the Nome Police Department for its prompt response and the students who reported the incident.
“We appreciate the response from NPD and their support in maintaining a safe campus; we also appreciate the students who saw something and reported it immediately,” Burgess wrote in the letter.
This is a developing story. KNOM will provide updates as more information becomes available.
