Student charged after being found with BB gun at North Providence High School

Amy Russo, The Providence Journal
·2 min read
6
Police car

North Providence police announced on Friday they have charged a North Providence High School freshman for showing up to the building with a BB gun.

Police said the incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Thursday when a School Resource Officer — a police officer stationed inside a school for safety reasons — was alerted to the issue by a student. However, Superintendent of North Providence Public Schools Joseph Goho, who has taken issue with the police version of events, denied that a resource officer was involved.

According to police, the 14-year-old male stored the BB gun in the front of his backpack. He was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds.

North Providence police sent a news release about the incident Friday morning, but later released an amended version of events.

Police initially described the item as a black Glock 19 6 mm BB gun and said the student was arrested. In a revised release issued soon afterward, the reference to the Glock was removed, as was the mention of the arrest. School Principal Christen Magill described the BB gun as a "toy weapon" and said it was found in an unattended backpack.

The student has been suspended indefinitely and the case is now with Family Court. A safety evaluation will be required if the student returns to school.

Chief Alfredo Ruggiero Jr. said that while "there’s always a concern when an incident like this takes place ... the student did not mention any threats while brandishing the replica handgun, so we take that as somewhat positive news."

This isn't the school's first problem with safety. Ruggiero said a similar incident took place in November 2021.

"It was a BB gun that the student was bragging to other students about," he recalled. "One of the other students did the right thing, notified school administrators."

An SRO addressed the student, who was removed from the school.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: North Providence High School student charged with carrying BB gun