Girl out of Hubbard school over toy gun

The pupil has been removed from school.

HUBBARD — A dispute between pupils at Reed Middle School here has landed a girl on the wrong side of the law and suspended from school.

City police Sgt. James Taafe said a 13-year-old pupil at Reed Middle School brought a toy pellet gun to school Wednesday. He said the gun shoots yellow rubber pellets.

Taafe said police believe the girl may have planned to shoot another female pupil with the pellet gun after the two had a disagreement. Police and school officials are not sure what the disagreement was over, but police said it may have involved a boy.

Police said school officials, after learning the pellet gun was on school grounds, searched the girl’s locker and found it, before it was brandished or used on school grounds.

“School officials did their usual excellent job and were able to head this off before anything happened,” said Taafe. “Sometimes 13-year-olds just don’t make the best judgments.”

Taafe said criminal charges are pending against the girl, who lists a Youngstown address.

Superintendent Richard Buchenic said the school does have a safety manual to address situations that may pose a threat to pupils. He said that policy was followed, quickly eliminating any potential danger.

Buchenic would not say exactly what penalties the girl may face from the school district, but said she is no longer in school.

“The pupil has been removed from school and we have started our disciplinary process,” he said.