Officials update a story that only First State Update brought you earlier today.
Delaware State Police are investigating an incident that occurred at the John Dickinson School in Wilmington at approximately 7:45 this morning.
Delaware State Police School Resource Officer and school staff were alerted about a student possibly having a firearm and ammunition. The student, a 16-year-old student, was removed from the classroom, and a loaded magazine was recovered from his person police said. A further search revealed an unloaded handgun in the student’s backpack.
The 16-year-old was taken to Troop 2 and charged with multiple felonies, including Possession of a Firearm in a Safe School Zone, Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Under 18, Possession of Ammunition by a Person Under 18, and Carrying a Concealed Firearm. Following arraignment by Justice of the Peace Court 11, the student was committed to the Ferris School on a $12,000 cash bond.
The incident raised concerns among parents, especially regarding the communication from the school. Parents were informed of the incident only in the late afternoon, several hours after the event. The email sent to parents just after 3:00 p.m. described the situation as a “safety incident” and detailed the actions taken by the school administration upon receiving the report.
School officials in an email to parents emphasized that the weapon was unloaded. It wasn’t until DSP released a statement that parents learned that a loaded magazine was also found.