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

Eye On Boise

Child with toy gun prompts lockdowns, searches at two elementary schools

Eighteen law enforcement officers searched two southwestern Idaho elementary schools for nearly two hours Tuesday morning after a second-grade student brought a toy gun to class, the AP reports. Canyon County Sheriff's spokesman Joe Decker said teachers called officers after a young student reported that another child riding the bus had what looked like a handgun. The bus had carried students to two Middleton elementary schools, and so both were placed on lockdown while officers searched for a weapon. Sheriff's Captain Dana Maxfield said the toy was found about two hours later in the possession of a boy who was around 8 years old, and who may have simply wanted to show his friends. Maxfield said that was a dangerous move, however, because the black-and-brown toy looked real except for a bright orange cap. Maxfield said school officials planned to talk to the child's parents.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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