A Blytheville High School student was arrested Wednesday morning after another student reported seeing a gun.
A student and parent reported to High School Principal Bobby Ashley that an 11th-grader "showed" a firearm to other students on Hearn Street on their way to school Wednesday morning, said Superintendent Richard Atwill.
"Mr. Ashley and the school resource officer immediately went to that student and found that he did have a loaded firearm," Atwill said.
The student, Keyjay Nesby, 17, "was handcuffed and escorted off campus," Atwill added.
The gun was never shown at school and no one was threatened, he said.
Atwill praised the work of Ashley and Officer Charles Middlebrook, the school resource officer, in addition to the student who reported the incident and the student's parent.
"I'm very proud of Mr. Ashley and Officer Middlebrook," Atwill said. "It couldn't have gone any better. The parent made the student do the right thing."
Atwill said he is not certain as to what charges will be filed against the student.
"That's up to the prosecuting attorney," he said.
The police department and the school will bring separate actions against the student, Atwill said.
According to school policy, the student will be expelled from school for one year.
According to a press release issued by Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson this morning, the 17-year-old student displayed the firearm during an altercation between students that took place off campus prior to the start of school.
"According to our investigation (the student) did not directly threaten anyone or display the weapon while on campus," Thompson said. "We have no indication that any particular person was being targeted or that he intended to use the weapon to assault anyone at school. A student having a firearm on campus is threatening enough and although this is a dangerous situation, it was resolved quickly with cooperation by students, parents, officers and school officials."
Thompson also said while investigating the case, detectives of the Criminal Investigation Division discovered several stolen firearms at the student's residence. He said the weapons were found to have been taken during a recent residential burglary. Thompson characterized the stolen firearms as "a separate and unrelated case."
Thompson said the student, who was arraigned today, was charged as an adult. Charges include possession of a firearm on school campus, terroristic threatening, residential burglary and theft of property, he said. His bond was set at $225,000 cash, with a circuit court date set for Nov. 24.
dhilton@blythevillecourier.com
rharris@blythevillecourier.com