Student brought rifle to school to sell it, police say
VANCOUVER, Wash. – A 16-year-old student at Evergreen High School in Vancouver brought a rifle/shotgun combination to school on Wednesday with the intention of selling it to another student, a Vancouver police spokeswoman said.
Instead, a teacher found the weapon, notified administrators and the school was put in lockdown.
Officers said the student hid the Rossi 410 gauge/.22 caliber rifle combination in a nylon case then left it under a table in a classroom. The barrels had been removed from the gun.
A teacher saw the case and opened it up to find the rifle and ammunition inside, police said. The teacher told administrators, who in turn called police.
Officers interviewed the student and arrested him on several gun charges. He was taken to the Clark County juvenile detention facility.
Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said there were never any threats of violence. Members of the SWAT team searched the school before the lockdown was eventually lifted.
Student Melique Journet said he was in choir class when an announcement came over the intercom that students needed to stay in their classrooms, turn off the lights and be silent.
Journet said school administrators told them somebody found a rifle in a classroom but that everyone was now safe and that they had the gun.
Several nearby schools were also put in lockdown as a precaution.
VANCOUVER, Wash. – A lockdown of Evergreen High School in Vancouver was lifted on Wednesday morning at about 11 a.m., hours after a teacher found a rifle in the school.
Students are being released from school early; buses will run normal routes and walkers are allowed to leave school. Students drivers are being escorted by security.
Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said there were no reports of injuries. A teacher found the rifle and ammo and immediately called police, she said. It's not clear where the teacher found the gun.
Parents trying to reach their students should go to the Evergreen Transit Center, police said.
Student Melique Journet said he was in choir class when an announcement came over the intercom that students needed to stay in their classrooms, turn off the lights and be silent.
Journet said school administrators told them somebody found a rifle in a classroom but that everyone was now safe and that they had the gun.
This story will be updated
Some are calling it overkill but after all of the shootings in Schools in the past, who knows if there was more than one weapon or kid involved? I would rather have the School do what could be called over reacting than have my kids or any one killed or injured. As far as the gun being taken apart, it does not take long to put it back together.
Sounds like big time overkill. Â Swat teams...really....
@sortbait After the CT shooting I hope you feel like a real jack wagon......
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 @HarryJuku Gun people like our law enforcement? Kind of a lame analogy.
I'm not defending this kid, he clearly should have gone about this differently - but I'll point out that when/where I grew up, it was common for our horses to be picketed outside the school's front door with rifles in scabbards!  We had competitions at lunch to see who was the best shot and the teacher usually came in 3rd or 4th!  Â
Times certainly have changed (sigh.)
The parents of the kid should be held accountable. Â Now let's do the KATU thing when crime happens - what's his race? Â What's his parentage? Â Must be a protected class! Â Blah blah blah. Â
C'mon this is total emotional and ignorant overkill by school officials
This is a well know squirrel /rabbit combo for kids. The barrel was removed it had ammo but no barrels attached. Total over fear reaction without questioning the boy . We are so fearful we aren't using good knowledge judgement b/4 hitting the panic button.
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Slow down and ask some questions, remove the gun and find out what is going on before scarying the hell out of everyone.
 @pistolpackinggranny lethal amunition doesnt belong in a school.
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you think its OK for16 year olds to carry weapons at school as long as they disable them before class?
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im sure the 16 year olds are taking care of the proper licensing and paperwork too.
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i hope your not raising any children who could make the news some day.
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 @pistolpackinggranny It's the law, no guns on school grounds.  Why do you hate our laws and our children?  Why do you hate education?  Why do you support ignorance and idiocy by young people?
I haven't read many of the prior comments so don't know if this has already been addressed, but I would be very concerned with WHO was this child going to sell the rifle to? For what purpose? And why on school grounds?Â
 @geeneemeenee@yahoo.com none of your business
 @geeneemeenee@yahoo.com It is when the idiot breaks the law.  Explain well and suffer less, explain poorly and suffer greatly.
 @geeneemeenee@yahoo.com That's EXACTLY what I have been wondering!!
"The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" -- School Administrators
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Not very bright on the part of the kid, however.
 @Mikey i see a wood stock and a trigger.. its a terrorist attack!!!!!!!!!!.. evacuate the state!
 @iamright555  @Mikey call in the swat team. the gun is in a bag disassembled, clearly the every student & staff member is at risk.
 @Jamie  @iamright555 LOL! Like that grade school boy who brought a 2" toy gun from his GI Joe to school and got suspended.
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Sometimes authority figures can be so rule-stupid they forget to be leaders and teachers and end up acting like idiots.
Not a big deal or anything...but that's my picture. But have they said any names on who it was who brought the gun?
 @ToniAnneMachala Probably won't right away or so being how suspect is a "minor" but it will get out. Sure the student body already knows.
 @Liberty4_WA i am a student...we're all confused.Â
They can question my son who goes to that school all they want. I just hope they find this kid and get him out of that school.
 @Rexter Yep.  If the kid is that ignorant than he should be put into special ed.  Maybe his parents too.
 @Benjamin Schniffle  @Rexter For what, being a kid? Lots of kids do stupid things. Once they've determined he meant no harm to anyone, they should charge him with being stupid and put a good scare into him. Instead they're going to make him a criminal and probably ruin the rest of his life.
Christmas is the time of year where depression and weird psychological activities start happening. Be aware of your friends and family who are struggling. They need to know that they have someone who loves them to help them.
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Glad this didn't turn out differently. We didn't need another shooting incident.
 @washcomom You just described my sixteen year old son. He's depressed because he thinks Christmas is gonna suck this year, even thought he's done so many great things this last year.
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We're letting him wallow in it 'till the 25th, when we'll send him to the basement where a set of kick-ass drums will be waiting.
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His jaw is gonna hit the floor tee-hee!
@washcomom Then it's been Christmas time for a long time now. This stuff is in the news everyday. So sad
In light of recent events, I feel all schools should have security and metal detectors at every entrance and exit. This sure happens a lot here.
 @PDXBEAR Yea.... make it into a police state or inner city type schools were it's more of a prison then a school. We start down that road of paranoia then we are in a sad state of a nation then. Sorry but I'm not for a TSA style system for grade school. Another "only in America" thing that frankly is sad.
 @Liberty4_WA  @PDXBEAR Everyone here is excited and alarmed. Calm down people! Lets not over react, just because a shooting at a mall locally. Take a deep breath ............................
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Kids and employees take guns to sell to their co workers that may be interested. The boy should have told someone and left it in the office but kids don't always think real clear. Everyone with a gun isn't a killer or terrorist. Calm down.................
@Liberty4_WA @PDXBEAR sure. Lets ignore the FACT that this is a trend and increasing in popularity and death. As sad as it is we need to wake up. Metal detectors and PREVENTION save lives. End of story.
I hope the police going through these schools aren't questioning kids without parental consent. Â
You are worried about kids being questioned by the police in cases like this? The main thing to be worried or concerned about, is who may have a weapon, who may have issues with others, who may be able to give information that could save lives.
Not worried about kids in a "public" school being questioned by law enforcement. If they need parental permission, then their parents or their attorneys need to go to school with them
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@Just Lookin So fully agree, wtf is wrong with you Lxyavi?
 @Ixyavi I hope the shooter going through these schools isn't shooting kids without parental consent.
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YOU MAKE ME SICK!!!!!!
 @Kerry C.  @Ixyavi Obviously no one was shot.  My comment was posted long after they'd secured the schools. Â
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Way to overreact. Â
 @Ixyavi I wish you wouldn't post comments on here questioning me and my over-reacting prior to getting permission from me and my parents. LMAO
@Ixyavi yeah that's what we should be worried about.
UPDATE: Evergreen HS students are being released early. Buses will run normal routes from the school, walkers will be allowed to leave from the school, students who drive are being escorted to their vehicles by security staff. Parents wishing to pickup their students can do so in the C-TRAN parking lot or can enter the McKenzie Stadium parking lot and wait for students. Cascade Middle School will be released as planned for today's district-wide early release.
Thanks for the update!
Anything about Burton??
 @Amy RichardEvergreen Public Schools about an hour ago Update: the lockdown for Burton and ECC has been lifted.
@Amy Richard I believe Butyon is OK now. Just the middle school and HS. My daughter was at the skills center and I was able to pick her up. My son is still at cascade under lock down.
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@wahoo seriously? That statement implies this CHILD possessed a gun legally and that we need to have better control of who can have a gun. Clearly it shows that CRIMINALS find guns illegally regardless of gun control laws.
 @Gary Sather  @wahoo actually he might be able to own that legally. I forgot the minimum age for rifles... but he is a dip sht for bringing it to school
 @wahoo what like drug control? they cant stop stupid
there goes the after school deer hunting trip
I would love an update to this story as I have kids at Burton Elementary; which sits right behind Evergreen school. I got an automated call saying they were in lockdown due to police activity but nothing since that, which was at 938am. Are they still in lockdown?
@Amy Richard ..I also have a child at Burton and I am anxiously awaiting news.. I would like to just get him home. If any parents with kids at Burton get any news, please post so we know when we can go pick up our kids.
Sarah - I am right there with you! I know they are safe; but I am worried about them being scared! And how will this work with early release today? I keep waiting for another update call but haven't gotten one since the first one this morning. Did you get that call as well?
 @iamright555  @Amy Richard Oh, and Burton has been off lockdown for a while now but Cascade is still on is what my son said. My son goes to Evergreen (I have one at Cascade and one at Burton still) and said some students were still being evacuated to Cascade from Evergreen. He is home now and I see a lot of kids walking.
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 @iamright555  @Amy Richard The updates are coming on Evergreen Public Schools website and Facebook site.Â
 @Amy Richard I looked for an update on your website.. i don't see an update there either.
@Amy Richard .. I just called Burton and they said business as usual now...
And I see NOTHING on any of the schools websites; or even on the District website :(
@Amy Richard .. I did get the call but nothing since
 @Amy Richard Yes my son is at Cascade and he just sent me a text that they are still on lock down. Wonder how they are going to handle early release? Oh and for those of you that don't have kids that are involved and are making snide remarks should think about what if it was your kid. Of course the middle school kids are scared as most of them probably heard about the shooting at Clackamas Town Center and so as pre-teens they are a little more inclined to be over reacting.Â
 @Kari Braun  @Amy Richard It is the teachers scarring the hell out of them and you . They are too hyper and causing all this alarm needlessly . Think !
Really? That is just scary! I wish they would let us know about updates. My girls are at Burton and I am assuming they are scared - - police & Swat team in their schools? This is crazy and SO SCARY! Thanks for the update....