Police: Principal Targeted In Planned Shooting
Unloaded Pistol Found In Eighth-Grader's Backpack
POSTED: 9:36 pm MST August 12,
2009
UPDATED: 9:59 am MST August 13,
2009
SURPRISE -- Surprise police said the 14-year-old eighth-grader planned to use the 9 mm pistol to shoot school Principal Jayson Black and hold him hostage.It’s unclear if the teen knew the gun was unloaded.Officers said the teen wanted Black to give him and all of his friends As in their classes and a “longer recess.”Officers said another student saw the pistol and reported it to the principal.The weapon was located in the student’s backpack and police were called.Dysart Unified School District spokesman Jim Dean said he does not know of any other incidents where a student has brought a gun to a DUSD school.He said a letter about the incident will be sent home with Desert Moon students Thursday. He said it is district policy to expel any student who brings a gun to school.Dean said about 500 students attend Desert Moon Elementary School, which teaches kindergarten through eighth grade, at 23251 N 116th Drive in Surprise.He said there are no plans to add metal detectors or change school security policies as a result of what happened at Desert Moon."I don't believe that's something we would entertain," Dean said. "Again, we believe our schools are very, very safe."
- ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM: The billions of dollars in government stimulus money are opening up opportunities for crooks and con artists.
Read More: AGs: Beware Of Stimulus Money Scams - MORE SLIDESHOWS: For images from the bizarre to the tragic to breaking news, visit the KPHO.com slideshow section and click away!
Copyright 2009 by KPHO.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
