“Our investigation pretty much has revealed it was for the purpose of selling from one student to the other,” said Shawn Keen, assistant police chief of investigations. “There does not appear to be any type of motive to use that firearm on anyone.”
He credited students for promptly alerting school staff about what had happened. As a result, staff and police acted quickly and retrieved the rifle before it could be taken into school, Keen said.
However, he expected school district staff to seek the maximum possible penalty “because this is something we’ll never tolerate … We’re not going to deal with these types of things in a very minor way.”
Two Terre Haute South students arrested for attempt to sell gun
TERRE HAUTE — Two Terre Haute South Vigo High School students were arrested Monday after one of them took a .22-caliber, single-shot rifle to the school campus with the intent of selling it to the other.
The gun was unloaded and it was never taken into the school building, school district and police officials said during a news conference.
The student who brought the weapon concealed it and took it with him when he rode the school bus to South. Once he arrived on the South Vigo campus, the gun was placed in the other student’s vehicle.
Both male students face legal and school disciplinary consequences, including possible expulsion.
“Our investigation pretty much has revealed it was for the purpose of selling from one student to the other,” said Shawn Keen, assistant police chief of investigations. “There does not appear to be any type of motive to use that firearm on anyone.”
He credited students for promptly alerting school staff about what had happened. As a result, staff and police acted quickly and retrieved the rifle before it could be taken into school, Keen said.
Officials found no ammunition in the vehicle or school lockers.
Superintendent Dan Tanoos said that “at no time was any student or staff member in danger.”
Possessing, handling or transmitting any firearm on school property is a violation of the school district’s zero-tolerance policy and carries an immediate recommendation for expulsion. It potentially could result in a 12-month school expulsion.
It also is a violation of federal law.
The school district will wait for police to complete their investigation before determining final school discipline, Tanoos said.
However, he expected school district staff to seek the maximum possible penalty “because this is something we’ll never tolerate … We’re not going to deal with these types of things in a very minor way.”
While no one was in danger, officials conducted a news conference to ensure that the community was informed of the facts, Tanoos said. “There’s a lot of rumor filtering through the community already,” he said.
He praised the quick work of city police, school staff and district security staff, as well as students who informed authorities.
Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said his office is researching potential charges, which range from a class-A misdemeanor to a class-D felony.
Because juveniles are involved, his office also is reviewing whether the cases would be handled in juvenile court or adult court.
Students played a key role in the investigation, Keen said. “Their letting staff and officers know what’s going on is critical. They’re going to know before we do, especially in these instances where maybe a weapon is concealed,” he said.
Officials would not say how the student concealed the weapon on the bus.
Modesitt agreed that a news conference was important to ensure that the public knew the facts.
He noted that Monday morning, his office was getting calls from people about allegations that a student went to school with the intention of shooting other students.
While no one was actually in danger, “We don’t want a bunch of students and parents to be terrified and worried about a situation that is just not true,” Modesitt said.
These two kids may receive felonies for something that would have been legal just across the street.
Officials would not say how the student concealed the weapon on the bus.
History - being from the deep south, I always admired Indiana in the fact that you could at one time have a gun rack in your truck. It was the only northern state that allowed it.
It doesn't anymore.....Heck I don't even think its allowed in Mississippi anymore either.
Wow better keep them guns from these kids. WTH, when I was younger I could have just put a shotgun in my car and went dove hunting that evening and never thought twice about it.
History - being from the deep south, I always admired Indiana in the fact that you could at one time have a gun rack in your truck. It was the only northern state that allowed it.
It doesn't anymore.....Heck I don't even think its allowed in Mississippi anymore either.
Fear not, there is no law in Indiana that prevents you from having a vehicle gun rack.
HUH? You mean I can have a gun rack on the back of my pickup and be legal?
I thought that was banned long ago..
How come I dont see any anymore?
Last I check this does not occur unless you have a GLOCK.
Thats funny!, thats also why I have an XD.
Wow, that is a revelation to me that it is still legal. I just have not seen it on so long I assumed it was outlawed.
Maybe there is hope yet.. I would still expect to see them in farmers trucks.
Truly eye opening...thanks.
I think the main reason is because of theft.
Hang a nice shotgun or rifle in your back window these days and it says "smash the window and steal me" to so many.
Last week I saw one in a pickup truck in Sullivan. It was a two gun rack with a pair of long guns in it.