BENNINGTON, OK--A high school student is now in custody after allegedly bringing an unloaded firearm to school. Parents were worried, but glad that no one was hurt.
After taking an unloaded hand-gun to school, one student won't be returning to class.
"I just couldn't believe it," Angie Cross said, concerned parent.
It was around 3:00 Wednesday afternoon. While most students were boarding busses, Bennington School administrators were notified that a 14-year-old had a firearm inside the building.
"I have a daughter who's 9 and a son who's 11, and what had scared me was that I knew that the kid who had the gun was in the high school," Cross said.
Fortunately, the weapon wasn't loaded. Faculty took the student to a classroom, where he reportedly cooperated with authorities.
"We had a situation that was taken care of very promptly," Donna Anderson said, Bennington Superintendent.
"We took the weapon and the student into police custody. We have him in police custody right now," Jimmy Hammond said, Bennington Police Chief.
Administrators and officers aren't sure if the student brought the gun to school for show, or to actually hurt someone.
"We're interviewing some more students and faculty members and stuff like that," Hammond said.
The incident has prompted school officials and law enforcement to consider educational safety programs for their students.
"We want our students to feel like they can report and make sure everybody is safe," Anderson said.
Due to an Oklahoma State law, the 14-year-old has been suspended from the district for a year. Superintendent Donna Anderson said she is more than willing to answer any questions parents may have.
"We don't want anyone to not feel secure in sending their kids to school here," Anderson said.
"I was very happy with the school's reaction. I was very happy with it," Cross said.
Parents were simply glad that class was dismissed safely.
Juvenile services have been notified. Bennington Police and school administrators may put together a plan at the next school board meeting. They'll discuss how they'll keep an incident like this from happening again.
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