Madison elementary student caught with automatic gun clips, 'speed loader' in lunchroom

MADISON − Superintendent of Schools Danielle Shanley and Police Capt. Joseph Longo, speaking during a board of education meeting on Thursday, revealed details of an "incident" the day before in which an elementary school student was found to have two "empty magazine clips" and a "speed loader" for a semiautomatic handgun.

Tipped off by two students that the student in question "had a gun" in his backpack in the lunchroom at Tory J. Sabatini School, a teacher immediately notified authorities and, with another adult, escorted the student into another room with School Officer Rob Dietrich, where he was searched, Shanley said. No weapons were found.

The incident drew a response of additional officers to the school, including Chief John Miscia.

While the student ate his lunch, a search of his backpack revealed "two empty magazine clips and a third item associated with the clip," Shanley continued.

Longo later described the third item as a "speed loader common with a semiautomatic handgun where you have a magazine of that type."

During the discussion, Shanley addressed the lack of metal detectors in the school and added that bringing them in was "not likely." But in this case, the gun-related items would not have been detected by a metal detector.

"The magazines were made of plastic," Longo said.

Shanley said police went to the student's home and determined there was no threat to the child or the school. The parents then went back to the school to pick up their child and discuss the "beginning of a disciplinary procedure," the superintendent said without detailing the nature of any discipline issued.

While acknowledging the serious nature of the incident, Shanley said she could not be responsible for what children bring to school and that "the schools are safe."

She shot down rumors of a working weapon being found. "What is true is there was no gun, and no bullets," she said.

"Most importantly, there was never any threat" to students, Longo confirmed.

'Fluid investigation'

Longo also said that due to the nature of "a fluid investigation involving a juvenile," he could not release any further information.

Shanley also addressed concerns voiced by parents after the incident about the lack of metal detectors in the schools.

"Regarding metal detectors, "I think that is not likely to happen," she said. "I have been asked if we will search all of our student's backpacks going forward, and also I do not think that is likely to happen. Schools are not prisons. What would be helpful is if parents would partner with us in finding what is in their children's backpacks rather than having us be the ones to search backpacks every day."

Only a few parents stood to speak during the public comment session. One criticized the district for only sending out one "very scary text message" with no followup texts.

Another parent, who seemed shaken by the incident, painted it as a wake-up call for the district.

"It's not theoretical anymore," the man said. "This is on our doorstep now. This actually happened. The kid got something into the school. We were given the gift of not having a tragedy, a gift that we're to lighting candles now in the middle of the park talking about our dead kids ... We did pretty good. We didn't do great. ... Just tighten up a little bit. That's all we ask."