Student arrested for bringing handgun into Broken Arrow Freshman Academy

Written By: John Dobberstein

(BROKEN ARROW, Okla.) A student at the Broken Arrow Freshman Academy was arrested Monday morning after bringing a handgun into the building, police said.

Read this story on the Broken Arrow Sentinel here. 

Officers responded to the Academy at 9:30 a.m. in reference to a student in possession of a firearm. On-site school security personnel located the student and retrieved a handgun prior to officers arriving.

Investigation determined there was no plan in place or intention to use the handgun. Broken Arrow Public Schools turned the handgun over to Broken Arrow police.

The juvenile in this case is Native American and open charges are pending through the Muscogee Creek Nation courts.

The Broken Arrow Public Schools said Monday the investigation is ongoing and final disciplinary measures have not been assessed. It is a standard operating procedure for the district to serve the student at home until a disciplinary course of action is decided, said BAPS Chief Communications Officer Tara Thompson.

Broken Arrow Freshman Academy Principal Andy Rice told parents in an email that a student informed school officials that one of their classmates had brought a gun to school, and the district investigated and found the report to be true. 

"The student does not have a history of disciplinary issues, and after interviewing the student and several witnesses, there appears to be no plan or ill intent," Rice said. "All evidence indicates this was simply an extremely poor decision on the part of this student, who will not be with us in-person for the remainder of this week. The student’s parents and BAPD are both involved and supportive of our team’s actions."

Rice said BAPS is continuing to cooperate with BAPD on this investigation, and while specific disciplinary actions against students cannot be disclosed to the public, the district will adhere to the board policies relevant to the issue.  

The Board of Education policy that would be in effect in this situation can be found here.