School gun incident leads to 4 arrests

SPIRIT LAKE — Four Timberlake High School freshmen were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in possessing a handgun at the school.

The students, three boys and a girl, each face charges for possession of a weapon by a minor and possession of a weapon on school property, both misdemeanors.

"No threats were made that we are aware of," Spirit Lake Police Chief Patrick Lawless said today. "We don't believe there was any malicious intent."

Two of the boys remain in custody at the Juvenile Detention Center. Another boy and a girl have been released to their parents.

None of the four has returned to school because they face disciplinary action from the school district, Lawless said.

Lawless said the .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol was loaded when it was brought inside the school on Tuesday morning. The boy then unloaded it when he passed it on to the girl. The girl then passed it to two boys. The gun was reportedly left in bushes outside the school. However, police said today that the gun has not yet been recovered.

The boy allegedly took the gun from his father's safe and told police he forgot he had it in his pocket Tuesday morning after he'd been shooting birds. School administrators heard rumors about a gun being at school on Tuesday, then investigated the allegation, Lawless said. Police were contacted on Wednesday as soon as they realized the rumors may be true, he said.