Police recover pistol from OHS student’s vehicle; long-term suspension, expulsion possible per policy

Snapchat message cited for police involvement; local case not related to St. Louis school shooting

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 10/26/22

On Monday, Gasconade County R-2 School District officials sent an electronic letter to parents that they located a firearm in a student’s vehicle on the Owensville High School (OHS) …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Police recover pistol from OHS student’s vehicle; long-term suspension, expulsion possible per policy

Snapchat message cited for police involvement; local case not related to St. Louis school shooting

Posted

On Monday, Gasconade County R-2 School District officials sent an electronic letter to parents that they located a firearm in a student’s vehicle on the Owensville High School (OHS) campus. 

They did not believe that anyone was at risk.  

Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy sent the electronic letter out at 1:59 p.m. via the district notification system.

According to the letter, “This morning the Gasconade R-2 School Resource Officer received a call from a school resource officer from another district advising of a disturbing Snapchat with a picture of an Owensville High School student holding a pistol.

“Upon receiving this information our school resource officer along with our assistant high school principal searched the student and the student’s vehicle. A gun was located in the student’s car.”

Hardy said the school resource officer and assistant principal located a pistol in the student’s car.

According to the letter, “We have no reason to believe students or staff were at risk during this time.”

Hardy said the situation had been handed over to the Owensville Police Department.

“It was never in our building, but found in a vehicle,” Hardy said about the incident. “We are taking appropriate action and contacting law enforcement and we are following district policy.”

Hardy said there were no threats made toward any of the students or staff.

“The school resource officer from another district contacted us about a Snapchat picture,” Hardy said. “So our school resource officer and the assistant principal at the high school did an investigation.”

Assistant Superintendent Staci Johnson confirmed that the reporting party came from the St. Clair school district.

“A student (at that school) reported the Snapchat and the school resource officer let us know it may be on campus,” Hardy said. “So we had reason to suspect.”

Hardy explained that they are going by the Handbook policy, which says bringing a firearm to school is a Safe Schools Violation.

“The way the discipline policy reads, expulsion is permanent and only the board of education has the authority to expel a student,” Hardy said. “Principals may suspend for 10 days and send the situation on to the superintendent for further review. In Missouri, the superintendent can suspend for up to 180 days. After that they refer on to the board of education for further review and the board has the opportunity to either extend the suspension or expel the student.”

With Safe School violations, the board takes it all into consideration, Hardy said.

Johnson added that the Safe Schools Policy JFCJ is based on the Missouri State Statute Safe Schools Act.

“Bringing a firearm to school could be one calendar year suspension or expulsion,” Johnson said about the consequences. “Obviously through investigation, it would be a Safe Schools Violation and will quite possibly end in expulsion if it falls under those guidelines. That is in our board policy. Especially since the Safe Schools Act is in place, giving students the benefit of the doubt is out because it is very specific.”

Hardy said this is the first time they have had to implement this policy for a firearm.

“This is the first situation of this magnitude,” Hardy said. “We haven’t caught another student on campus with a firearm.”

While many parents and guardians took to Facebook to express their displeasure that the district was not put into immediate lockdown as soon as they knew of a potential threat, Hardy said there was not a rush to the buildings to pick up students as there has been in the past.

“There have been incidents in the past,” Hardy said. “We try to let parents know as much as we can without violating confidentiality.”

The student’s name has not been released.

Johnson said they can’t release personal identifying information when asked about the student’s grade level. She did confirm the student is of driving age.

As for not going into lockdown, several sources cited several reasons.

Gasconade County R-2 School Resource Officer Brenn Finely sent a press release to The Republican on the Owensville Police Department’s behalf to clarify some information.

“Officer Finley was contacted by another school resource officer from another district regarding a Snapchat that was sent out on Friday (Oct. 21) evening.

“Finley and Owensville High School Assistant Principal Brad  Bunch investigated the concern and located a firearm in a vehicle.

“Juvenile names cannot be released.

“There was no known threat to the school or individuals.

“Due to the age of the suspect and being an active investigation, no further information can be released.”

Hardy said district officials do their best to be open and transparent, releasing as much information as possible.

“We try to keep our students safe, keep our doors locked in our buildings every day and do our best to make sure our students are safe and secure in our buildings,” she said. “We take all threats to our students and staff very seriously.”

Hardy said this incident isn’t linked to the school threat in November 2021 that was never resolved.

Johnson said the district does its best to take the rumors seriously.

“The important thing is rumors were taken seriously, reported immediately and officials took immediate action to make sure no students were in danger,” Johnson said.

Finley added that the threat was not linked to the Monday morning shooting at St. Louis Central Visual and Performing Arts High School that left three dead and seven injured. The suspect in the shooting was shot dead by police, according to published accounts.