Cops following up on a tip recovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun from the backpack of a 17-year-old Hamden High School student.
School officials learned that the student had the handgun over the weekend, according to a release issued Tuesday by Hamden police spokesperson Detective Sean Dolan. They informed police.
“For precautionary measures, the student was brought to the principal’s office by school administrators and school security. A stay in place order was given by school officials while police were investigating,” Dolan wrote.
The student was uncooperative when first approached. Dolan said officers made use of de-escalation techniques in which they’d been trained. The student “complied” with police, who then found the loaded weapon in his backpack.
Police arrested the student on charges of carrying a pistol without a permit, possession of a weapon on school grounds, and second-degree reckless endangerment and breach of peace. He was taken to a juvenile detention facility in Bridgeport.
Police plan to increase their presence at Hamden High in coming days, while a crisis team will be available for students and teachers.
“Today serves as an important reminder of the collaboration efforts between the community, the Board of Education and the Hamden Police Department to help keep the public and our student population safe,” Dolan stated.
Finding the loaded handgun is not the story. How many loaded handguns did not get found........