Rainier school district open after student arrested for having gun

Classes in the Rainier School District are being conducted on Friday as usual after the arrest of a student who showed up on the 260-acre campus this week with a gun.

Michael Carter, the district's superintendent, said no one was threatened.

"He did not go into the building," Carter said.

The student, who was not identified, was expelled on Monday, Carter said. He turned up Tuesday on the campus with a gun. The school district was informed by police on Wednesday about the incident, Carter said, and learned on Thursday that he had been arrested.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office released a statement, saying deputies went to the boy's home in Rainier and talked to his father, Chad Taylor, 47, who confirmed that his firearm was missing. Police found a .22 cal Sturm-Ruger revolver in the home.

Police believe the boy took the gun to the 480-student school. The Rainier Police Department arrested him and took him to the juvenile facility in Cowlitz County.

-- Lynne Terry

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