CENTRALIA, Wash. — Police said a Centralia Middle School student brought an unloaded handgun in their backpack to protect their friend while trick-or-treating on Tuesday night.
School staff found an empty 9 mm handgun in a Centralia Middle School student's backpack on Tuesday morning. A Centralia police officer met with the principal and school security officer, who confiscated the gun. The student's family was told about the incident and went to the school.
Investigators said the student took the gun from a family member without their knowledge to protect their friend, who had gotten physical threats from other children with ties to the Norteno gang.
According to Centralia police, the student was planning to use the gun to scare the other children to protect their friend while they were out trick or treating on Halloween night.
The pistol was confiscated and put into evidence. Police said the student who brought in the handgun was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center on charges for possession dangerous weapons on school facilities.
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