BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Officials with Sehome High School notified families Thursday, December 3rd, about 12:15pm, that the campus had been put on “modified lockout” status.
On Friday, Sehome High School Principal Sonia Cole sent out some details late Thursday. Today, December 6th, the Bellingham Police Department (BPD) provided details regarding the incident.
According to BPD Lieutenant Claudia Murphy, BPD officers responded to the school Thursday about 11am due to a report of someone being in possession of a gun. “The administration had been made aware of this and placed the school in a partial lockout and requested law enforcement assistance in investigating this incident.”
Several officers and a BPD detective responded to the school according to Murphy and based on their investigation were able to determine a 16-year-old student was in possession of an airsoft pistol (Glock 17 style). It was safely retrieved and booked into evidence. A BPD explosive detection team of Officer Horton and K9 Raven also responded and conducted a check but did not locate anything of note, Murphy said.
Probable cause was developed for possession of a dangerous weapon on school facilities (RCW 9.41.280 1e) for being in possession of an air pistol with a CO2 cartridge, which is prohibited on school grounds.
Murphy said the student was released to a parent and the charge have been referred to the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office.