Three students charged in shooting at middle school

Two seventh-graders had been taken into custody after a third student was shot in the leg while they were handling a gun in a school restroom. The student’s wound was minor and he was the student charged Friday.

“Had (the student) not obtained a gun from their home, this episode would have never happened,” Davenport said.

Names of the students were not released.

State prosecutors will determine whether to file against an adult who allowed the youths access to the gun, Davenport said.

The two students charged first are being held in a juvenile detention facility, while the student who was wounded is on house arrest as he recovers, Davenport said.

Authorities were called to Maury Middle School Thursday morning after a teacher heard the shot and found a student had been wounded.

The school nurse first treated the injury, and then the student’s mother took him to a hospital.

Authorities searched the school and found a second gun that was not loaded. One of the students brought both guns, but Davenport said all three students were involved.

“We know why they were bringing the weapons to school, but we’re not going to get into that,” he said.

The students were charged with having a weapon on school grounds. Davenport said they face other charges but declined to specify them. A court hearing was scheduled for next week.

The students could be expelled for at least one year under the school’s zero-tolerance policy on firearms. Jefferson County schools did not report any gun offenses for 2003-2004, the most recent year data was available.

“We preach gun safety, and we supply a free gun lock to anyone that wants one,” Davenport said. “If it doesn’t start at home with control by the parent or guardian, there are a whole lot of things that can happen.”