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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Garry student expelled, 13 others suspended over gun

A Garry Middle School student has been expelled and arrested after bringing a 9mm gun to school in anticipation of a fight off campus later in the day. Thirteen additional students were suspended because they knew about the gun and didn’t tell an adult, said Terren Roloff, Spokane Public Schools spokeswoman. On Thursday, rumors spread around the northeast Spokane school about the boy having a gun, Roloff said. An assistant principal retrieved the boy’s backpack and found the gun inside. The boy told school officials the gun was for “his protection.” The gun was not loaded, but there were two bullets in the backpack, Roloff said. There was no magazine, which apparently meant the bullets would have to be loaded individually. The boy was arrested and taken to the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center on a charge of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, Roloff said. School officials sent a letter home with students yesterday informing parents of the incident. The boy told authorities the gun belonged to his father.