2 GUNS, 2 ARRESTS AT CHARLESTOWN H.S.
Two teens are in custody after authorities found two guns at Charlestown High School in the latest concerning safety incident in Boston Public Schools.
Boston Police said they were called to the school at 10:10 a.m. for reports of a firearm.
Cops at the time arrested a 13-year-old boy, who they found in possession of the 9mm Glock, according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office. The boy, whose name was not released was ordered held on $2,500 bail and required to stay away from Charlestown High School and any witnesses, per the DA.
But then cops then found a second handgun in a different location in the school — prompting the department to do a full sweep, complete with K-9s probing the area. Police later arrested a 17-year-old boy, the department said.
No other information was immediately available.
Boston Public Schools said in a statement that this “represents a serious security breach that will not be tolerated,” and that the district is grateful that no one was hurt.
The district said there will be “additional adult and safety personnel” at the school going forward.
“Our schools must be safe learning environments where students and staff feel secure,” BPS said, adding that the district is working with cops. “We encourage anyone who does not feel safe for any reason to tell their school leader or another trusted adult.”
This comes amid scrutiny over the school district’s approach to public safety and interactions with the police.
On Wednesday, the Herald reported that administrators at a different school delayed in calling the cops after a BPS parent flashed a gun during a student fight.
Other reports include that of a teacher getting
boiling water thrown on her by an angry student and then having to take herself to the doctor and the police station. BPS also has found live ammo multiple times over the past month.
“I am thankful that no one got hurt but remain troubled that we have yet another incident involving firearms and ammunition in our Boston Public Schools,” At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty, the public safety chair, said.
“Boston police did a great job sweeping the school. The Boston Public Schools have to do a better job of making sure all of our schools are safe and that students always feel safe in them.”
Earlier in the day, before the news of the guns broke, city officials were singing the district’s praises when asked about school safety at a press conference.
Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, who’s in her
waning days leading the beleaguered system, insisted that the district passes safety incidents along to the cops “as fast as possible.”
“Our school leaders, obviously, do some initial factfinding,” she told reporters. “And then they’ll make their phone calls as soon as possible.”
Mayor Michelle Wu pushed back on the idea that that there was a district-wide effort to ice out the cops.
“I do want to just dispel: there’s been some, I think, suggestion of whether BPS is not cooperating or working with law enforcement. That is absolutely false,” Wu said when asked before the Charlestown incident.
Her office said in a statement that the school took “swift” actions.
“This is a close-knit school community, and thanks to the strong relationships between adults and students the situation
was identified quickly, with rapid and thorough response from educators and Boston police,” Wu said in a statement.
“As a mom, I am heartbroken that any of our young people would make the dangerous decision to carry a weapon, and am determined that each of our children will be and feel safe in our schools, on their commutes to school, and throughout our neighborhoods,” she continued.