Two Massachusetts high school students accused of carrying loaded gun to school in separate incidents

In separate incidents, two Massachusetts high school students are accused of bringing a loaded gun to school, one of which is also accused of having drugs in his school bag.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon confirmed that a 16-year-old male student at Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School has been charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, assault and battery of a police officer and possession of ammunition without a license in connection with his allegedly bringing a loaded firearm into the school.

On Tuesday, at approximately 12:45 p.m., Lowell Police responded to Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School, located on Middle Street in Lowell, after receiving information that multiple students from the school might be in possession of firearms. Upon arrival police were able to make contact with building security guards who advised them that a student had given them information both, that students were in possession of firearms and that there was a threat made to “shoot up the block”. Police were quickly able to locate the suspect student who was attempting to leave the school carrying an over-the-shoulder bag. Police detained that student, who struck the officer and attempted to flee. A loaded revolver was found inside the student’s bag and the juvenile was placed under arrest.

The school was then placed on lockdown, classes were stopped and three police K9s conducted a sweep of the school. That sweep was negative for further weapons.

“We will not tolerate illegal firearms in our schools in Middlesex County,” said District Attorney Ryan. “In this case the young person who brought this loaded weapon into school put fellow students, school staff, himself, responding officers and everyone in the community at risk. I applaud the student who came forward to report this incident to a trusted adult. It is imperative that, as we continue to train parents, educators and law enforcement around the issue of gun violence in schools, that we remember that students are one of our best assets. We know that students are often more likely to hear these kinds of threats, see something on social media or have knowledge that a peer has access to a weapon. Guns and threats of violence have no place in our schools, and we will hold responsible those who jeopardize the safety of our schools.”

This case was arraigned in Lowell Juvenile Court.

In a separate incident, on Monday at approximately 11:30 a.m., Worcester Police officers were dispatched to the Worcester Alternative School on McKeon Road. Administrators had discovered what appeared to be illegal drugs in a student’s bag and called for police assistance.

Officers arrived and discovered a loaded handgun, bags of what appeared to be heroin, bags of what appeared to be crack cocaine, and bags of what appeared to be powder cocaine. A seventeen-year-old boy was placed under arrest for firearms and drug charges. School families were notified of the incident by the school’s administration.