Crime & Safety

Student Suspended For Bringing Toy Gun to School

The sixth-grade student did not mean any harm to anyone, according to police. But he is suspended indefinitely and faces a hearing.


A Ferri Middle School student has been suspended indefinitely for bringing to school a toy gun that shoots plastic pellets, Johnston Police said Thursday.

Other students reported on Tuesday that the sixth grader was carrying the replica gun in his backpack and was showing around it to friends, according to Deputy Chief David DeCesare. The school resource officer searched the student's locker and found the gun, according to reports, and the school suspended the student

The student did not mean any harm to anyone, Decesare said. He told officers he was simply returning it to a classmate.

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"There was no intent," Decesare said. "He wasn't being bullied, and he didn't bring it in to scare anyone."

In addition to his indefinite suspension, the student faces a hearing before the Johnston-Smithfield Regional Juvenile Hearing Board.

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