CLINTON TWP. (WWJ) A Clinton Township high school student is in custody, after he's accused of pulling out an Airsoft gun in class Monday and forcing the school into a short lockdown.
Police say it happened around 8:30 a.m. Monday morning at Clintondale High School— the same day the accused Oxford shooter pled guilty to 24 felony charges, including terrorism, for killing four students in a mass shooting at Oxford High School in November.
Police tell WWJ the 9th grade Clintondale High student pulled the Airsoft gun out of his backpack at the school on Little Mack near 15 mile and started "waving (the gun) around the classroom."
The Macomb Daily reports another student saw it and notified a teacher; the freshman who brought it gave it to a female student to hide it.
The Clintondale Community Schools superintendent, Rodriguez Broadnax, said in an interview with the Macomb Daily that "it looked like a regular gun, looked just like it."
"The safety and wellbeing of our students are and will always be our top priority," Broadnax said in a letter posted on the school's Facebook page and sent home to families. "Thus, the high school and middle school buildings were placed on lockdown as soon as we became aware of the situation."
Multiple parents told the Macomb Daily they were terrified when they received a text from their children that "someone had brought a gun to school."
Jennifer Marie Johnson posted on Facebook Monday morning: "…to get a call saying your child's school is being placed on lockdown really puts you in a different space…I'm praying for ALL schools!!!"
Neighbors said on Facebook that a helicopter "was circling the school."
The lockdown was lifted around 9:30 or 10. Classes continued for the remainder of the day, but parents were given the option to pick up their children if they wanted to.
According to healthychildren.org, Airsoft guns shoot 6 mm plastic pellets that, while not deadly, can cause serious eye injuries or harm small animals.
It's not clear what charges the freshman student will face.
