Today, December 6th, 2022, a report was received by the NCHS Administration of a student with a gun on campus.
Upon receiving the report and in accordance with our comprehensive district safety plan, NCHS administrators and law enforcement took immediate action to secure the situation. Officials went directly to the student identified in the report. NCHS was placed into a lockdown. Students and staff remained in their classrooms with the doors locked. An unloaded gun was found in the possession of the student.
In alignment with our District's Comprehensive Safety Plan, schools within the immediate vicinity of NCHS were placed on a precautionary lockout. This included Park Elementary, Cottonwood Elementary, and Dean Morgan Junior High.
As the investigation quickly unfolded at NCHS and more information was received, it was identified that other students might be involved in the situation. As such, the lockdown at NCHS remained in place to ensure the safety of students and staff. The subsequently named students were located and taken to the main office by CPD and the NCHS administration. It was determined no additional students were involved. The lockdown at NCHS lasted approximately one hour while NCHS and CPD assessed the situation.
NCSD will be recommending student expulsion in situations where students bring weapons on campus. Student disciplinary consequences, as applicable, will be aligned with our District's Extreme Behavior Guidelines. Additionally, NCSD will encourage criminal charges to be pursued against students who bring weapons on campus.
The negative impact of these safety threats on our schools and community is unacceptable. Students bringing weapons to any school campus is prohibited and against the law. It is not and never will be tolerated by NCSD. Safe and healthy environments are the priority of NCSD.
The overall disruption this situation caused to the learning environments of multiple schools and across our community is unacceptable. The resources and time that go into these situations are critically important and incredibly extensive. Together with law enforcement, we will continue to treat every report and threat with the seriousness it deserves. The safety of students, staff, and our community are of the utmost importance to us.
We implore our parents and guardians to please speak to your student about the potentially devastating consequences of these situations. School consequences and legal consequences will be pursued to the fullest extent for students who bring weapons on campus.
We want to share our appreciation for the reporting party. It is critically important that if you see something or hear something, you say something to a trusted adult, parent, teacher, or law enforcement individual.
We want to thank the staff and students at NCHS for your response and assistance in ensuring safety for all. Thank you to our School Resource Officers and the additional responding Casper Police Department officers for their dedication to school and community safety.