Beech Grove investigates social media post of student who brought gun to school
BEECH GROVE, Ind. (WISH) — A day after a 14-year-old student was taken into custody after bringing a gun to Beech Grove High School, the school district said it was looking into a potential threat made by the same student earlier this month in a social media post.
Capt. Bob Mercuri with Beech Grove Police Department said the student had no intent to use the semiautomatic handgun at school, but only wanted to show it to a friend. The friend told someone at the school, and its resource officer took the student into custody.
“Obviously anytime a student has a gun there’s potential for an issue. But as far as him saying I’m going to hurt somebody or anything like this, we had no knowledge of that,” said Superintendent Paul Kaiser.
A parent who did not want to go on camera on Friday shared an Instagram post with News 8 that was allegedly created by the same student more than two weeks before the gun was brought to school. The post features a picture of cards from the Cards Against Humanity game. One reads: “The class field trip was completely ruined by (blank).” The other card reads: “An AR-15 assault rifle.” News 8 passed the post along to both police and the school district. School officials said they want this to serve as a teachable moment for parents, students and the community.
“When those parents found it, the first person they should’ve contacted was the school and/or Beech Grove Police Department. It goes back to if you see something or you hear something, you need to report it,” said Kaiser.
The parent also alleged that the student held the gun to a child. Kaiser said the school district did not receive any kind of reports to corroborate that. He encourages anyone with information on this incident or other suspicious behavior to speak up. You can report tips by calling, texting, emailing or submitting information online here.
“If we would’ve heard that coming from that student, we would’ve talked to that student immediately. We would have the parents involved. We would’ve had the other guardians involved in that situation. We would’ve had the Beech Grove Police involved. That statement in and of itself is a huge concern for us,” said Kaiser.
The 14-year-old student was suspended for at least two weeks, according to school policy, Kaiser said Friday. Pending the outcome of the investigation, the student could be expelled for the rest of the school year or longer. The investigation is being handled by the Beech Grove Police Department.