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Student may face charges over plastic ‘BB’
Special to the Vindicator
Photo
This is the air soft gun fired by a 14-year-old male student at William S. Guy Middle School in Liberty School District. The shot hit a 13-year-old male student Tuesday afternoon.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
LIBERTY
Charges may be filed against a 14-year-old male student at William S. Guy Middle School who shot a 13-year-old male student with an air soft gun that discharged a plastic “BB” about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The event took place in the Block House, which is also called the “varsity house.” The building is behind the school and houses physical-fitness equipment.
The Trumbull County juvenile prosecutor will make the determination on charges, said Police Chief Rich Tisone.
The older student, an eighth-grader, told police he took the air-soft gun out of his bookbag before wrestling practice. He told police that he fired the gun because he thought it was broken. Police booked him on juvenile offenses: unruly child and assault.
The student who was shot, a seventh-grader at Guy Middle School, was checked by the school nurse and Liberty paramedics. He was shot in the leg; the BB didn’t penetrate but left a mark.
Both boys were taken to the police station, then later released to their parents and guardians.
The air-soft gun, an ammunition magazine and other BBs were found in the bookbag and taken into evidence.
The boy who was shot gave a statement to police.
Stan Watson, Liberty superintendent, said the district will follow its discipline process. He said Guy principal will meet with the boy and his parents/guardians; the student could face suspension from school.
The length of suspension depends on the incident, he said. Each case is handled individually and what is appropriate for the incident, Watson said.
“This incident is part of the learning process and will be treated as a learning experience to correct behavior,” Watson said. “We want students to know that when they make poor decisions, there are consequences.”