City High student brought BB gun to school, principal says

IOWA CITY - A City High School student took a BB gun to the Iowa City school Wednesday, leaving the air gun in a backpack throughout the day, school officials said.

A City High staff member saw the student take the BB gun out of a backpack after school and off-campus, Principal John Bacon said in a message sent to parents Thursday afternoon.

School administrators then contacted the student's parents as well as the Iowa City Police Department, according to the message. Officers went to the student's home and the student gave them the BB gun.

'As always, the safety (of) our students and staff is our top priority,” according to Bacon's email to families, which noted that administrators plan to follow discipline procedures regarding the student. ' ... We will continue to evaluate this situation in cooperation with the student's parents to ensure the ongoing safety of all students.”

The incident occurred a week after a student in possession of a loaded handgun was arrested at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. The 16-year-old boy was arrested and the gun was seized, police said, and 'no actual threat was made” against the school.

In an e-mail message to the Gazette Thursday, Iowa City public information officer Derek Frank said that no criminal charges have been filed by police in the incident and none are expected to be.

'The school is handling any consequences,” he said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8330; molly.duffy@thegazette.com