EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Merrimack Valley
Andover student brings BB pistol to school, shoots four classmates
Published: May 19, 2009
ANDOVER — An 11-year-old boy who bought a BB pistol at a flea market in New Hampshire, brought the gun to school yesterday and shot four students with it, police said.
The four students had minor bruises but nothing that required medical treatment or a trip to the hospital, police Lt. James Hashem said.
The students ranged in age from 9 to 11 years old, he said.
The boy, a student at High Plain Elementary School, was showing the gun around on the bus and at school, Hashem said.
High Plain Principal Brenda O'Brien sent a letter home to parents yesterday explaining the incident.
"The BB gun was discharged at the bus stop and on the bus," wrote O'Brien. "This did not result in serious injury to any of our students."
The boy bought the BB pistol without his parents knowledge or permission, Hashem said.
He said school officials called police about 9:30 a.m. to report the incident.
The boy has been suspended from school for 10 days, Hashem said.
He will receive a summons to appear in Lawrence Juvenile Court, where he will be charged with possession of a dangerous weapon on school grounds, and four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
There are 527 students at High Plain.
High Plain students found with a dangerous weapon may be subject to expulsion under a zero tolerance policy for drugs, alcohol, weapons and violence detailed in the school handbook.
Parents waiting outside the school yesterday were surprised to learn of the incident.
"Not here," said Bonnie Hyslip, who was there to pick up her 6-year-old daughter. "This is Andover, for God's sake."
"I'm sure we'll be getting a note in the kids' backpacks," said Hyslip.
Andover Superintendent Claudia Bach said police responded to the school yesterday after the incident was reported.
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