Boyceville eighth grader brings loaded handgun to school
By LeAnn R. Ralph
BOYCEVILLE — Quick-thinking on the part of four students Friday morning alerted the Boyceville middle school-high school principal to the fact that another student had brought a loaded handgun to school.
According to a news release from the Boyceville Police Department, at 10:02 a.m. January 8, the police department was notified by Boyceville middle school/high school staff about a student with a loaded firearm on campus.
Officers from the Boyceville Police Department responded to the school, secured the weapon and interviewed the eighth grade student.
The student was taken in to custody for several offenses and was referred to juvenile authorities.
Because the student is a juvenile, information about the incident will be extremely limited, said Boyceville Police Chief Greg Lamkin.
Police Chief Lamkin was able to say that the loaded weapon was a handgun.
The eighth grader was referred to juvenile authorities on a felony charge of possessing a weapon in a gun-free zone (Class I felony) as well as misdemeanor charges of carrying a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18; endangering safety with a dangerous weapon; and carrying a concealed weapon, the police chief said.
The misdemeanor charges are all Class A misdemeanors.
“The Boyceville Police Department would like to express its profound appreciation to the students that notified the campus staff of this potential threat so that it was able to be dealt with swiftly and safely,” according to the police department news release.
The Boyceville Community School District sent a letter home to parents of all students to notify them of the incident.
Boyceville Superintendent Kevin Sipple provided a copy of the letter to the Tribune Press Reporter.
The letter reads as follows:
“We need to inform you of an incident that took place in our 7-12 building on Friday, January 8, 2016. Our 7-12 principal [Steve Glocke] was approached by four students who informed him that an eighth grade student had a gun in his backpack at school. Immediately, the principal found the student, who was unarmed. The student said the gun was in his locker, and the principal and student proceeded to the locker where the backpack and gun were located.
“The student was brought to a secure location, and the Boyceville Police Department was called to the school. The Boyceville Police Department took the gun into their possession and removed the student from the school building.
“Based on police questioning, it is our belief that the student did not intend to do harm at school.
“We take school safety seriously in our district. We are so grateful our students came forward to report this matter to a safe adult in our school.
“The Boyceville Community School District will deal with this matter based on our school district policy and Wisconsin State Law. Sincerely, Kevin D. Sipple, District Administrator.”