UPDATE: Unloaded handgun found on Frankfort High School student
FRANKFORT, Ind. — A gun fell from a Frankfort High School student's waistband about 8 a.m. Thursday during a fight inside a boys' bathroom inside the school, Frankfort Police Chief Scott Shoemaker said during a 1 p.m. Thursday news conference.
The news conference video is published on the police department's Facebook page.
Students immediately reported the fight and thought that an ammunition magazine fell from the 17-year-old student's waistband. Police found a small-caliber handgun, but no ammunition, Shoemaker said during the afternoon news conference.
Police searched the boy's home and did not find ammunition or any other firearms, Shoemaker said.
The student immediately was detained and taken to the Frankfort police station for questioning, Shoemaker said. The student later was incarcerated at a juvenile detention facility on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm on school property.
"The incident has been thoroughly investigated and all students are safe," police and school officials said in the morning's initial release of information to parents and the community.
"The school was placed on immediate lock down during the investigation," Shoemaker said Thursday afternoon. "The Frankfort Middle School was placed on a temporary lock-out for precautionary reasons due to the proximity of the high school.
"Multiple officers, detectives and command staff responded to the school and coordinated investigative efforts alongside of school administration staff to ensure the safety of students and staff," Shoemaker said.
“I am thankful that the student witnesses reported the incident to school officials and our (school resource officer),” Shoemaker said. “In a partnership with the Community Schools of Frankfort, we have had an officer in our high school for twenty-three years now."
During the brief press conference, school Superintendent Matt Rhoda said, “We have prepared for these types of critical incidents in partnership with the Frankfort Police Department, so that if any incident like this should ever happen — as it did today — that we are prepared to keep everyone safe, and that is exactly what happened today."
Shoemaker said that Indiana law protecting juvenile suspects prevents him from making additional comments about the investigation or the suspect.
Any additional information will come for Clinton County Prosecutor Tony Sommer, Shoemaker said.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: UPDATE: Unloaded handgun found on Frankfort High School student
