Centralia student taken into custody after administration finds gun and ammunition in backpack
A Centralia High School student was taken into custody after officials found a gun and ammunition in his backpack.
A phone message was sent to parents from Darin Ford, the superintendent on Friday morning.
Ford said that students reported the possibility of items to administrators, which led to officials searching and finding the weapon and ammunition in the student’s possession at 8 a.m.
The student was taken into custody by the Centralia Police Department.
Ford said the investigation is ongoing and the district is cooperating with authorities.
To hear the full audio, click here.
ABC 17 has crews in Centralia to learn more about the incident.
UPDATE 11:30 AM: Centralia Police Chief Larry Dudgeon said the investigation determined the handgun was stolen from a residence in Audrain.
The Audrain County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting an investigation into the theft of the gun.
Officers said there is no current threat at the school and the school day is proceeding as normal.
UPDATE 1:50 PM: The Centralia Police Department will be holding a press conference about the incident at 2:45 p.m. at the district’s office.
ABC 17 will be livestreaming the conference.
UPDATE 7:30 PM: Centralia Police Chief Larry Dudgeon said family structure is needed more than ever. After the chief placed a hand on the 15-year-old’s shoulder, he said he immediately knew this young man needed reassurance that he was going to get the help he needed.
Dudgeon said he is relieved how smoothly everything turned out and is, over all pleased that no one was hurt.
In Friday’s news conference, Superintendent Darin Ford said counselors will be available for any Centralia High School student who needs it.
Centralia police said that the gun was stolen two to three days prior to Friday at his girlfriends parents’ house and that at this time they have no reason to believe that this 15-year-old was going to shoot up the school.
According to police officials because the suspect is a juvenile, no further information concerning this case will be given at this time.
