From ABC7 New York · · 1m 30s
Loaded gun found in a Staten Island backpack
A fight between two students at Curtis High School led safety agents to a loaded handgun in a bookbag.
In brief
A fight between two students at Curtis High School led safety agents to a loaded handgun in a bookbag. The gun was only found because a fight forced a search, and Curtis High School has no scanners at the door. Originally reported by ABC7 New York.
A fight, then a gun
On Monday morning at Curtis High School in St. George, Staten Island, an 18-year-old student was fighting with another student. Witnesses said the two were slamming each other into walls.
What the search turned up
School safety agents broke up the fight and searched the 18-year-old's backpack. Inside was a firearm with bullets still in the cartridge.
Student in custody
The 18-year-old was taken into custody and charges are expected. No students or staff were hurt, and the NYPD was called as soon as the gun was found.
“Weapons have no place in our schools or our city.”
Parents want more than police
Parents told Eyewitness News they were relieved nobody was hurt but shaken that a loaded gun rode into school in a bookbag. One said families have to do their share of the checking.
“You can have as much security as you want, but sometimes you really just need the parental guidance.”
No scanners at the door
Curtis High School has no scanning equipment. The gun surfaced only because a fight prompted a search, not because anything caught it on the way in.
Not an isolated Monday
A second loaded gun turned up the same day at a Queens high school, caught by a scanner. In the Bronx, a 17-year-old was stabbed while registering for classes and is expected to recover.
The big picture
The gun was only found because a fight forced a search, and Curtis High School has no scanners at the door.
