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Police Charge Kearns Boy Who Brought Gun to School

The Granite school district police department has pressed charges against an 11-year-old Kearns boy who brought a gun to school yesterday. The charges include one count of possession of a firearm and three counts of aggravated assault. Granite school district spokesman Ben Horsley says the gun was found in the boys backpack after two of his fellow students reported it to their teacher. The boy insists that he brought the gun to school to protect himself from a Connecticut style school shooting. Horsley says while it’s a legitimate concern it’s never an appropriate action.

“If and when you feel unsafe in school you should talk to a trusted adult, your parents, a teacher, or other administrator about those concerns so they can be addressed,” he says.

The school district has suspended the boy and will make a final decision on his future placement based on the outcome of the criminal charges.

“He will not be returning to this particular school," Horsley says.  "More than likely, in these types of situations where there is an egregious violation of safe school policy, alternative arrangements are made to continue his education.

Police booked the boy into a juvenile detention center last night. The charges will go before a judge this afternoon. 

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