Columbus, IN—According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s office, on Monday a Columbus North High School student reported to a dean that another North student may be in possession of a handgun. School Resource Officers from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department were immediately contacted and began an investigation. The Student who was allegedly in possession of the handgun was spotted, along with three other students, by the school resource officer.
The students fled but three of the four were apprehended were taken to the Bartholomew County Juvenile Youth Services Center on allegations of Truancy and Resisting Law Enforcement.
No handgun was located at that time., but as the investigation continued it was learned that the handgun had been thrown into nearby landscaping during the foot pursuit. After a thorough search by Deputies including a K9 unit, no gun was located. The ongoing investigation revealed that the fourth student who had evaded apprehension had later gone back to the scene and retrieved the handgun. A Deputy was able to track down the handgun along with an additional handgun, both of which had previously been reported as stolen through the Franklin Police Department.
In an effort to not interfere with an ongoing investigation after school hours, this information was not made public until the investigation was completed. The investigation has led both the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and BCSC to believe that at no time were staff or students in danger of being harmed on campus. Due to the safety concerns and disruption at school, BCSC Administration will be taking disciplinary action.
