Mercer Island school to remain closed after gun report

MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — A Mercer Island middle school, closed Wednesday while police investigated a report that students planned to bring guns to school, will remain closed through the end of the week, a district official said.

The closure affected Islander Middle School, where a 14-year-old eighth-grader was arrested Monday.

A school resource officer found an unloaded .38-caliber revolver and two bullets in the boy’s backpack.

Mercer Island School District Superintendent Cyndy Simms said Wednesday night the closure “will allow more time for a continuing investigation.

“We also need more time to plan for security when school reopens.”

Classes were tentatively set to resume Tuesday, after the Memorial Day weekend.

Simms said Mercer Island police needed more time to complete their investigation.

Simms said earlier that middle school officials had identified specific students and notified police.

Additional details were not immediately available.