Students at a Bucks County middle school learned from home on Wednesday after an 11-year-old boy fired a gun near the school building on Tuesday afternoon. NBC10’s Leah Uko has more on the details on the investigation.
An 11-year-old boy who was walking home from school pulled out a gun and fired at a house in Bucks County, police said.
On Tuesday, May 21, at 4:08 p.m., Bristol Township Police responded to a home on the 100 block of Goldenridge Drive in Levittown after a bullet struck a wall inside a bedroom. No one inside the home was injured.
Investigators determined an 11-year-old boy was the person who shot at the home. The boy was walking home from Ben Franklin Middle School on 6400 Millcreek Road, less than a half a mile away from the house on Goldenridge Drive, when the shooting took place, investigators said.
Police spent hours speaking with neighbors, checking homes and a grassy area on the street.
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Police later recovered the weapon, a 380-caliber handgun, around 9 p.m. that night, according to officials. Both police and school administrators are now investigating whether or not the boy brought the gun to school earlier in the day.
The boy is currently under supervision at the Bucks County Youth Center. There was an increased police presence at Bristol Township School District schools on Wednesday as a precaution. Ben Franklin Middle School also had remote learning on Wednesday.
"The student who fired the gun has been identified and has been immediately removed from school. This disciplinary process for long-term suspension/expulsion will be initiated," a Bristol Township School District spokesperson wrote. "The investigation into this incident is continuing by law enforcement. Since it is an evolving situation involving juveniles, we cannot say much at the time, but will provide updates when available and appropriate."
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The spokesperson also wrote that the shooting was an “isolated, non-targeted incident” and that there are no active threats against any school in the district.
In light of this incident, police are warning any youth about guns and gun safety.
“It’s very important that if you see something that doesn’t seem right to you, to report it to a teacher, report it to a principal, your guidance counselor and ultimately let the police department know," Bristol Township police Sgt. Jason Mancuso said. “They shouldn’t have guns first of all. You should let your parents know. You need to get on the right track with your life. Having a firearm and being a juvenile is only going to lead to dismay and further problems."
A representative with the school district said that in-person learning will resume on Thursday along with increased police presence just as a safety precaution.
