Student caught with airsoft gun near school

Herald assistant editor

MOSES LAKE — A juvenile was taken into custody by Moses Lake police after allegedly carrying an airsoft gun in the area of Garden Heights Elementary Thursday afternoon.

Moses Lake School District Director of Secondary Education Dave Balcom said there were no injuries and area schools were not placed on a lock-down because school was not in session.

Apparently a middle school-aged student hid an airsoft gun in a vacant lot next to the school, he explained. After school was out, the student went to retrieve the item and was walking in the area of the school.

He noted the orange tip of the gun was removed.

The orange tip is to indicate the gun is a toy and is not deadly.

Another student reportedly saw the boy retrieving the airsoft gun and immediately told an adult, Balcom explained. Emergency dispatch was called and within minutes school district officials and law enforcement were at the scene. He said it was a great response time.

He said he did not know the intent of the juvenile.

Disciplinary action against the student is decided by the school district, he said.

Shortly after the incident was reported to police, an emergency phone message was activated, informing school district staff of the incident, Balcom said.