Suspension upheld in Ohio boy's "finger gun" case

Suspension upheld in Ohio boy’s ‘finger gun’ case

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A three-day suspension from school has been upheld for a 10-year-old boy a principal says pretended his finger was a gun and pointed it at another student’s head.

The fifth-grader had said he was “just playing around” but Columbus city schools said students had been warned about pretend gun play numerous times this year.

The Columbus Dispatch reports a district hearing officer upheld the boy’s suspension Monday while offering to change the offense to committing a “volatile act.”

The boy’s grandfather said the ruling would be appealed while the district said the grandfather was not the boy’s legal guardian and didn’t have the standing to make that decision.

The school system said pointing a finger like a gun violates the district’s zero tolerance weapons policy.