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PD: Cooper High School student waves, points gun at students on school bus

Posted at 10:34 AM, Oct 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-28 19:33:44-04

BURLINGTON, Ky. -- A Cooper High School student on a school bus waved a handgun, pointed it at other students and then threw it out the window of the bus Thursday afternoon, according to police.

Boone County Sheriff’s deputies responded at 2:50 p.m. Thursday around East Bend and Snow Roads in Burlington, where they said they found the handgun on the side of the road about a mile from where the bus had stopped.

Deputy David Hehman said a 15-year-old Cooper High School student from Florence had brought the weapon to school and had given it to the 16-year-old, who then pulled it out on the school bus. 

Police said the 15-year-old is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, burglary, theft of a prescription drug and illegal possession of a prescription drug.

The 16-year-old student is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, terroristic threatening and burglary, according to police.

Police said the gun was also used in a burglary and theft case, and additional charges are likely.

Thursday’s incident has raised concern among the Cooper High School community.

Cathy Schmelzer, a grandparent of a student, questioned the security at the school following the incident.

“Where’s all the security and adults in school,” Schmelzer said. “I mean where are they at that these kids can do this kind of stuff?"

Cooper High School Principal Mike Wilson said they are looking into the incident, and the safety of students is always top priority.

Wilson said he talked to both students, and he said they told him they never planned to actually use the gun, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t taking the situation seriously.

“It is very serious that they would even consider, let alone bring the gun to campus and exchange it from one hand to another,” Wilson said.

He also said the school plans to conduct an internal review to evaluate security.

“Incidents like this always brings to light (that we need) to review... to make sure we’re doing everything we can to prevent something like this,” Wilson said.