SPOKANE, Wash. — Concerns about school safety linger in Spokane after a student brought a loaded gun to Shaw Middle School, according to court documents obtained Wednesday.
According to court documents released to NonStop Local, the situation began when a student who was alone with the suspect reported that the suspect showed them a gun in his backpack. The suspect allegedly said, “I’m holding it for someone.” The student chastised the suspect for bringing the gun and reported that the suspect responded with a threat, saying, “If you snitch, I will pop you in your head the next time I see you.”
Another student who interacted with the suspect said that they were both skipping class. This student told police that the suspect said something along the lines of, “Don’t judge me for what I got in my backpack,” before showing them the handgun inside his backpack. The student noted that they could tell it was a real gun, not a BB gun. The suspect claimed he brought the gun because another student would be coming to school but did not provide further details. The student later separated from the suspect and reported the incident to a Shaw Middle School staff member.
Court docs said that the staff member was alerted to the situation and located the suspect. According to court documents, the suspect attempted to run away from the staff member and other school personnel. The staff member managed to grab hold of the suspect’s backpack. However, the suspect broke free and ran down the stairs without it. The staff member then checked the backpack and discovered a loaded gun inside.
Court docs said that , police responded to reports of a person with a weapon. Officers recovered the gun from the staff member, and additional officers located and detained the suspect in a field north of the school.
Police stated they developed probable cause for charges of bringing a dangerous weapon onto school property and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. The suspect is currently booked at the Spokane County Juvenile Jail.
Dev Snow, a mother of a Shaw Middle School student, claimed she learned about the incident on Facebook before being informed by the school.
She plans to advocate for increased safety measures like metal detectors or clear backpacks.
“Working on preventative measures would definitely help prevent firearms going into schools. Metal detectors would definitely help. Either a ‘No Backpack’ Policy or a clear backpack policy would also help,” Snow said.
Multiple school districts across the U.S. already require clear backpacks for students in grades K-12.
The National Center for Education Statistics reported in the 2019-2020 school year that about 4% of American public schools required this policy or banned backpacks altogether.
NonStop Local requested an interview with Spokane Public Schools (SPS) Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard, but was informed he was unable to speak with a reporter.
In an email, NonStop Local Reporter Steffi Roche asked Dr. Swinyard and two spokespeople for the District how this incident could change safety procedures moving forward, as the student was able to get inside the building with, the documents report, a loaded gun.
A spokesman for the District provided this statement:
“We recognize and share parents’ concerns about student safety and want to emphasize that we are continuously refining and improving our protocols to meet the highest standards.
Ensuring a secure learning environment is always our top priority, and we work in close collaboration with local law enforcement, holding regular meetings and debriefs to assess and strengthen our security measures.
With safety as a constant focus, we make annual upgrades across the district, including enhanced camera systems and other improvements, as part of our ongoing commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for students and staff.
Finally, we want to underscore that safe firearm storage can save lives and ensure children remain happy and healthy at school. In 2022, the SPS Board of Directors unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2022-13…to inform district families and the wider community about the importance of secure firearm storage.”
