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Boy expelled after bringing handgun to school

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FLORENCE ” A 14-year-old boy who took a handgun to school after an older student threatened him has been expelled for a year.

Authorities found the weapon in the student’s backpack at Fremont Middle School on May 18 after a tip from another student, Florence school superintendent John Merriam said.

Police found a 9mm handgun along with an ammunition clip and a bullet that apparently had been removed from the chamber, Merriam said.



The boy, whose name was not released, is barred from school grounds for 12 months but will be tutored about six hours a week at district expense, as state law requires, Merriam said.

Merriam said the boy was afraid of a 15-year-old who had been suspended for allegedly making threats.



“He was scared of another boy, but the fact is, there was a gun in the school, and we exercised the mandatory punishment,” he said.

Merriam said the 14-year-old was honest about what happened, took full responsibility and made no excuses.

Merriam said the boy’s actions were “uncharacteristic.”


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