Gun Found in Possession of Providence Middle School Student
Monday, April 15, 2024
Providence Schools have confirmed that a middle school student had a weapon on school grounds on Friday.
The incident — involving a juvenile female in possession of a loaded gun at Esek Hopkins — is just the latest at Providence schools.
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Latest in Guns at City Schools
In December, when Governor Dan McKee visited Mount Pleasant High School to tour and meet with staff, the school resource officer was disarming a student who was carrying a gun In another room in the high school — read more here.
In October, the Providence Public School Department came under fire for its handling of an incident in which an 8th-grade student brought a loaded gun to Del Sesto Middle School.
Letter to Community
In 2019, the State of Rhode Island took over Providence schools under Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green.
GoLocal obtained a copy of the letter that was sent to the community on Friday from Esek Hopkins Principal Luis Fernandez, in which he wrote the following.
I am writing to inform you that this afternoon, a gun was found in a student’s possession during dismissal time outside of the school. The student was immediately placed under the supervision of administrators and police were notified.
The student’s parents were notified by administration, police promptly seized and secured the weapon, and authorities detained the student. We have no knowledge that the gun was ever brandished or any threats were made to any member of our school community.
As a parent myself, I am alarmed and concerned by this incident. Our schools need to be a safe place for our students and staff. As such, we have zero tolerance policy for weapons in our schools. We all have a role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students and it is critical that we take proactive action to address potential issues. Please take some time to speak to your children about the serious dangers and consequences of having a weapon in their possession.
I want to thank the school community for the prompt response and especially the staff who came forward with their concern. I also want to thank police for their quick response to this matter. Our top priority is to ensure that all students and staff are safe. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
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