A student was playing with a handgun in the back of a classroom before the firearm went off, forcing a San Francisco high school and nearby schools to go on lockdown Thursday afternoon, according to police sources. Christie Smith reports.
What to Know
- At 11:15 a.m., officials received reports of a possible firearm on campus, according to the San Francisco Unified School District.
- Balboa High School in San Francisco and nearby James Denman Middle School and Leadership School were on lockdown as police investigated.
- Police sources told NBC Bay Area that a student was playing with a handgun in the back of a classroom before the firearm went off.
A student was playing with a handgun in the back of a classroom before the firearm went off, forcing a San Francisco high school and nearby schools to go on lockdown Thursday afternoon, according to police sources.
Balboa High School in San Francisco and nearby James Denman Middle School and Leadership School were on lockdown as police investigated a report of a firearm on campus. Four suspects − all students — have been detained in the incident, police told NBC Bay Area.
"At this time, one student is under investigation for the firearm discharge, with the three other students being investigated as possible accessories after the fact," police said.
On Friday, classes resumed as usual at Balboa, but there will be classroom discussions and extra counseling staff available at the school's teen health center to support students, according to the San Francisco Unified School District.
A 14-year-old girl student told NBC Bay Area that the gun went off in her class in the auditorium. She explained that she witnessed one student saying to another, in a joking way, "do you want me to shoot you?"
Local
The other student said "yeah OK," not taking the other student seriously, according to the witness. Then, the student with the gun started fumbling with his backpack and the firearm went off, the witness said.
Authorities said one person sustained a non-life threatening injury during the incident. One student sustained non-life threatening injuries unrelated to the firearm discharge and was evaluated and released to parents at the scene, police said. No other students were injured in this incident.
The gun and clothing from the suspect youth was later recovered in the backpack of a fellow student at the scene. A firearm and spent bullet casing were also recovered.
The lockdowns at Balboa High and nearby James Denman Middle School and Leadership School have all been lifted, police said.
Parents were sent to the campus football field to collect their children. During the lockdown, authorities had to obtain insulin for a diabetic student.
Worried mom waiting outside Balboa High school... she is texting with her 17 year old daughter who is on lockdown. Her daughter said she is safe. Mom shared this text exchange. pic.twitter.com/IXAet1lKhr — Christie Smith (@christies_nbc) August 30, 2018
Worried parents outside Balboa High in #SF credit the @CitizenApp_SF with providing clear early updates/ info. Multiple parents tell me it was the best info they had. Kids said they weren't supposed to use their phones inside during lockdown but many were updating parents anyway pic.twitter.com/bK0ZMmfPTt — Christopher Jewett (@sfnewsman) August 30, 2018
Parents have re-united with their kids after a lockdown in #SF at Balboa High. Parents tell me they were able to communicate with their kids via text during the lockdown but details from the school were not forthcoming until 30 min after the incident via phone call. pic.twitter.com/QcROxdvbLO — Christopher Jewett (@sfnewsman) August 30, 2018
Tense moments as parents wait to retrieve their kids at Balboa High school in #SF after the school went on lockdown when a gun reportedly went off in one of the classrooms. Only one minor injury reported, not from gunshot. pic.twitter.com/mffM6qi8aA — Christopher Jewett (@sfnewsman) August 30, 2018
#Breaking: Heavy police presence outside Balboa High School. School on lockdown. Blocks near the school are behind police tape. pic.twitter.com/YISbWKwc4E — Christie Smith (@christies_nbc) August 30, 2018
