Nederland student removed for pellet gun on campus; middle schooler faces resisting charge

Published 12:28 am Thursday, November 18, 2021

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NEDERLAND — A Mid County middle school student was removed from campus Wednesday after school officials said he brought a pellet gun to school.

Principal Erica Gauthier announced to parents that the incident took place Wednesday afternoon when Central Middle School staff learned a student had a pellet gun.

“The situation was handled quickly through the office along with the assistance of our school resource officer and the Nederland Police Department,” Gauthier said. “The majority of the campus was unaware of the incident. The student will be disciplined in accordance with the Student Code Conduct.”

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Gauthier said there was never a threat to students or staff at any time.

“We take very seriously the District’s policy for weapons, look-alike weapons, or other dangerous instruments,” she said.

Central Middle School staff contacted the Nederland Police resource officer at approximately 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, indicating a student had a gun, Police Chief Gary Porter said.

“The resource officer went to the school and found a 13-year-old with a backpack that supposedly had a firearm in it,” Porter said. “When they went to search the backpack, the child resisted.”

Porter said the backpack contained a pellet gun.

The student was brought to the police station, where he was charged with resisting an officer, which is a Class A misdemeanor.

The student was then released to his mother’s custody.

According to the school district, only one student was disciplined for the pellet gun possession. School officials have not detailed how they found out about the gun.