Gun found in student’s backpack Thursday at Washington High School

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- Thursday, a school resource officer at Washington High School recovered a gun from a student’s backpack.

It all started with a fight here at Washington High School. According to South Bend Police, a student resource officer went to see what was going on, and eventually found a gun in one of the student’s backpacks.

That student was immediately detained and taken to the St. Joseph County Jail. He was taken straight to jail since South Bend police report the suspect had a prior weapons offense.

Washington High School is in South Bend’s second district, which is represented by Common Council Member Henry Davis Jr.

“We’re terrified that those types of things can happen,” he said. “I’m a parent. The last thing I want is my son to be in an environment where my son is unsafe.”

He said he wants to see a tighter bond between city administration, and the south bend community school board.

“We’ve desired to have this conversation,” he said. “Not only this but others, to make sure that we are providing the safest, the cleanest, environments for our kids and our families.”

While the South Bend Community School Corporation declined an interview, a spokesperson said it is all thanks to a student resource officer that no one got hurt.

She said the officer found the gun before anything bad could be done with it.

“We don’t know what would have happened, one way or the other,” Davis said. “We thank God that nothing did take place.”

“Obviously we need security in our schools, this is obviously a reason why,” Davis said.

This is the second instance last week where a firearm had been a threat to south bend community schools.

On Tuesday, a gun went off on a school bus leaving Jackson Middle School. Luckily, no one was hurt.