Rifle incident at WCHS resolved

A Thursday morning incident involving a hunting weapon on the campus of Wayne County High School has been resolved, according to Superintendent of Education Tommy Branch.
In a prepared statement, Branch and staff with the WCSD said that early Thursday district officials were alerted to a concern involving a student’s vehicle parked on school property. Upon investigation, a hunting weapon was discovered secured inside the vehicle.

“At no time was the weapon brought inside the school building nor used to threaten anyone,” the statement said. “The item was immediately confiscated and turned over to the property authorities in accordance with district policy and state law.

“The district also followed all established policies and procedures in addressing the owner of the weapon and taking appropriate disciplinary action.
“The situation was handled promptly and without disruption to the school day. We are deeply thankful for the vigilance of those who reported the concern and for the professional response of school administrators, school law enforcement and local law enforcement officers. Their swift and coordinate actions ensured that the situation was resolved safely and responsibly.”

The state goes on to say that safety of students, teachers and staff is paramount for the district.

“The Wayne County School District takes the safety and well-being of all students and staff as our highest priority,” the statement reads. “The Wayne County School District remains committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for every student and employee.

“We will continue to follow all established safety procedures and work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our schools.”