Pittsford Middle/High School went into a hard lock down when school officials found a handgun in a 13-year-old male student’s bag at 1:43 p.m. on March 14. Police were notified and worked alongside the school to restrain the student, according to the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office.
“Some students came to us and said that the student had drugs — pills — in his possession,” Dean Jodi Mallar said. “When we searched his bag, we found the handgun.”
Mallar added that the student had not had previous disciplinary issues with the school.
According to a HCSO press release, once the school was secure and Sheriff Parker and several deputies arrived, they interviews one of the student’s parents at the school. Parker and the deputies searched the student’s belongings, and upon finding the weapon, removed it from school property.
Shortly thereafter, the hard lockdown was lifted.
“It goes without saying this sort of thing means permanent expulsion — he will not be coming back,” Mallar said of the student.
According to the press release, while Parker and the deputies continued to interview the student, they also requested the assistance of the Michigan State Police with a K-9 unit as well as a Bomb Squad unit. Pittsford school officials cleared the school a few minutes before school let out and moved all students and staff out of the building so that the sweep could commence. No other weapons were found.
All school activities were cancelled for the night and Pittsford Area Schools were closed on March 15.
The 13-year-old was turned over to the Hillsdale County Probate Court system until further notice. MSP and the sheriff’s department searched his home for additional evidence on March 14. The investigation remains ongoing.
Parker could not be reached for comment.
