Two Stuarts Draft students charged with having gun on campus

From staff reports
Published: May 12, 2008

Two Stuarts Draft Middle School students have been charged with possessing a weapon on school property after another student witnessed the gun at a school locker last week.
Cpl. Rick Modlin of the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office said the students are eighth-graders at the middle school.
One was released to parents Monday, while the other student remains in a county juvenile detention center. The two students have been suspended indefinitely by the Augusta County Schools.
Augusta County Superintendent Gary McQuain said a Stuarts Draft Middle teacher was told by another student Friday morning of seeing the gun the day before. Modlin would not disclose the type of gun. McQuain said he has been told a .22-caliber pistol.
The student witness was brought to the principal’s office, and the two students involved in a potential sale of the gun were brought in. The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office was notified as well.
“The two young men were brought in and patted down,’’ McQuain said. It was determined the gun was not at the middle school, but was later located at one of the students’ homes by the Sheriff’s Office.
McQuain said since no gun was found at the school, the school day continued as normal. A letter to parents advising them of the situation was sent home with students at the end of the school day.
“At no tome was a weapon found. Based on the information provided during student interviews, it was determined that a lock-down drill ws not required,’’ said the letter from Stuarts Draft Middle Principal Scott Musick.
McQuain said it is critical for students to tell school officials when they witness a situation like last week’s.
“Thank goodness for the the young person who stepped up and did the right thing,’’ McQuain said.