Hutch Police: Student pointed gun at classmate Thursday; gun found loaded Friday

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Update 1:40 p.m. Hutchinson Police say a 12-year-old student has been taken into custody after pointing a loaded gun at a classmate at Hutchinson Middle School 7 on Thursday.

The department says it was notified of the incident at around 10:15 p.m. Thursday, and that the incident happened earlier in the day. Officers attempted to locate the suspect on Thursday evening but were unsuccessful.

On Friday, uniformed and plainclothes officers were stationed at the school and caught the student as he was arriving. A search of his backpack revealed a loaded gun, and the student was taken into custody.

Police say there is no evidence that the student planned a mass shooting, but the investigation is ongoing.

The Hutchinson School District says a gun was seized from a student entering Hutchinson Middle School - 7th grade on Friday morning.

A USD 308 spokesperson said the gun was found “through proper reporting and people speaking up,” which enable police to respond as the student entered.

The gun has been confiscated by police and the student is in custody.

The school was in a lockdown briefly Friday morning, and the spokesperson says there is no ongoing threat and that students and staff are safe.