Gun confiscated at Glenn Elementary School

A student brought a gun to Glenn Elementary School on East Geer Street on Monday. The gun was confiscated without incident.

Durham Public Schools spokeswoman Janet Del Pinal said the student had grabbed a jacket when he left for school and said he did not realize a gun was in one of the pockets.

Del Pinal said the student immediately gave the gun to a teacher.

“The student did the right thing,” Del Pinal said.

DPS did not provide the age or grade of the student or say whether the gun was loaded. The incident is still being investigated.

Possession of a gun on school property can result in a 365-day suspension under North Carolina law. But superintendents can modify the suspension depending on the circumstances.

Here’s what state law says:

“The superintendent shall not impose a 365-day suspension if the superintendent determines that the student took or received the firearm or destructive device from another person at school or found the firearm or destructive device at school, provided that the student delivered or reported the firearm or destructive device as soon as practicable to a law enforcement officer or a school employee and had no intent to use such firearm or destructive device in a harmful or threatening way.”

Monday’s incident followed an unrelated incident last week when three Durham schools were placed on lockout due to a report about students running near that person who possibly had a gun.

During a lockout, no one is allowed in or out but instruction continues. That’s different than from a “lockdown,” in which and students and staff are told to lock classroom doors and to shelter in place until the threat has passed.

Durham Public Schools officials said law enforcement officers who responded to the call on Thursday didn’t find a gun.

But Eno Valley Elementary School, Carrington Middle School and Northern High School were all placed on lockout until authorities completed their investigation.

This story was originally published February 19, 2018 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Gun confiscated at Glenn Elementary School."