Incident at Creative Arts Secondary School: Toy Guns Found After Tip
After a St. Paul school received a tip that students may have brought BB guns to school on Friday, a search was conducted, and two toy guns were found. The replica guns resembled handguns, according to Sgt. Toy Vixayvong, a St. Paul police spokesman. Fortunately, no one was injured, and no threats were made during the incident, as stated by Creative Arts Secondary School Principal Kristen Lynch in a letter to parents.
Response and Investigation
Officers responded to the public school, located on Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul, at approximately 8:40 a.m. The school caters to sixth- to 12-graders. Upon investigation, police determined that two students, aged 11 and 13, had each brought a toy gun to school to show their friends, as stated by Vixayvong. The boys were not arrested, and the school will be handling the incident with the students and their parents.
Lynch emphasized the importance of safely storing any weapons at home and ensuring they are not accessible to children. She also reminded parents to check their child’s backpack daily to prevent dangerous and non-educational items from being brought to school.
Previous Incidents in St. Paul Public Schools
This incident is not isolated, as there have been two previous instances of guns discovered at St. Paul Public Schools this school year. On the first day of school, a 14-year-old student was found with a handgun at Johnson Senior High School and was arrested. The handgun was unloaded when recovered by police.
Last week, a report of a gun at Como Park Senior High led to the arrest of a 16-year-old student off school grounds. The student had run from the school, and police found him about a mile away, recovering a handgun and loaded magazine from a yard where the suspect had been seen.
The school has clarified that the items found were BB guns, while police determined they were toy guns that resembled handguns. For more information on this incident, visit Here.
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