Salem High School Superintendant Dr. Brad Detering says a student has come forward to say three gun shells found on the locker room floor Friday morning belonged to the student and had been left in clothing accidentally and fell out while changing for physical education. The student said they had been left in a pocket after target practice with another family member on Thursday.
Detering says when the first shell was found on the locker room floor during the first hour, the locker room was locked down by the School Resource Officer. During a search that followed, two other small caliber shells were found. At that point, all students who had been in the locker room were searched during the following two periods with nothing found.
Detering says as preparations were being made to begin searching vehicles in the parking lot, a student came forward and admitted ownership of the shells and how they had been forgotten following the target practice the night before.
At that point, absent any weapon found, the investigation was canceled.
Detering says some parents had begun taking students out of class before the investigation was complete as rumors spread about a possible incident at the high school. In a message to parents after the conclusion of the investigation, Detering encouraged parents to keep their students in class. However, he says he understands if some parents still felt it was best to pull their students from class.
Detering says the district has an all-hazards plan that was implemented and modified to address Friday’s situation.
