13-year-old is charged with felony

A felony charge was filed against a 13-year old former Mead Middle School student Wednesday for bringing a loaded pistol to school and stashing it in a boys’ restroom.

The student, who had been at the district one week, was expelled Tuesday after the principal found the Taurus .38-caliber handgun. He could face up to 30 days in juvenile detention.

In the ongoing investigation, two other students have also been expelled for not coming forward with information about the gun, according to school officials. One lied about his knowledge of the gun, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

The student who brought the gun was charged with bringing a firearm onto school property and a felony charge of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Spokane County deputy prosecuting attorney Bill Reeves said the maximum penalty for the felony is 12 months probation, 150 community service hours and 30 days in detention. The boy has opted to stay in the juvenile detention center instead of requesting that he be allowed to go home, Reeves said. It was unclear why the boy chose to stay behind bars, Reeves said.

Mead Middle School principal Craig Busch sent a letter home with all students Wednesday regarding the incident.

In the letter, Busch said it was noon Tuesday when he was told that students were talking about a boy who had brought a gun to school. A girl told Busch the name of the boy and Busch began questioning him. After searching the boy’s locker and backpack, Busch said he found neither a gun nor any irregular behavior from the student. Busch decided to continue questioning the boy, and also talked to other students, including one who said he knew about the gun and explained exactly where it could be found. A minute later, Busch recovered the gun from the restroom.

It was wrapped in a rag and tucked behind a toilet, according to a sheriff’s office media release.

Because the weapon had been recovered and there was no eminent danger, the school decided not lock down, Busch said in the letter.

“At this time the investigation indicates that only a very small group of students knew of the weapon on Monday and did not report it,” Busch wrote. Another group of students had heard rumors, but did not have first-hand knowledge of the gun, he said.

“The teachable moment is breaking down the code of silence,” said Mead School District Superintendent Steve Enoch. He praised the students who came forward with information. What’s still in question is how the student obtained the gun and why he brought it to school.

“We’re certainly curious as to why (he brought the gun to school),” Enoch said. “He’s a new student, only been in the school system about a week.”

Deputies traced the gun to an owner in Duvall, in rural King County.