Weapons detection system finds BB gun at Smithfield-Selma High School
WAS INSIDE AT THE TIME OF THE
FIRE. THE CAUSE IS STILL UNDER
INVESTIGATION. JUST DAYS NOW
INTO THE START OF THE NEW
SCHOOL YEAR HERE IN A BB GUN
PROMPTED A JOHNSTON COUNTY
SCHOOL TO GO ON LOCKDOWN
BRIEFLY THIS MORNING AS WE LOOK
AT SKY 5 VIDEO HERE. THIS IS
OVER SMITHFIELD AND SELMA HIGH
SCHOOL MOMENTS AFTER LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
>> APPREHENDED THE STUDENT
THERE. WRAL'S ASHLEY PATTERSON
IS LIVE. SHE'S OUTSIDE OF THE
SCHOOL DESTINY. STUDENTS WERE
THERE. THEY SAW ALL THE POLICE
THAT SHOWED UP, PREVENTED THEM
FROM GETTING TO SCHOOL. AT THE
START OF THE DAY. QUITE A SCARY
SITUATION.
>> AND STUDENTS USE THE WORD
CONFUSES ALL OF THIS WAS
HAPPENING. AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS
TELL US THAT THAT BB GUN WAS
DETECTED USING ITS WEAPON
DETECTION SYSTEM. ONE STUDENT
HERE TOLD ME THAT AS HE WAS
TRYING TO COME TO SCHOOL THIS
ENTIRE AREA WAS BLOCKED OFF
BY POLICE.
NOT EVEN A WEEK INTO THIS NEW
SCHOOL YEAR. A SCARE AT
SMITHFIELD SELMA HIGH SCHOOL.
WE BE INFORMED THAT A STUDENT
WAS FOUND IN POSSESSION OF A
FIREARM.
>> WE ARE IN LOCKDOWN. THIS
MESSAGE WENT OUT TO FAMILIES
AFTER THE WEAPON DETECTION
SYSTEM HERE FOUND A STUDENT
WITH A BB GUN. DEMAR SOTO SAYS
HE WAS SITTING ON THE BLEACHERS
IN THE GYM WHEN IT HAPPENED AND
THEN THE FOOD CAME IN AND GET
TO KNOW. BUT BACK TO A MOBILE.
>> IT DID SAY HE POINTED IT AT
SOME LIGHT. THAT'S WHEN THE
COPS AND THE CHASING DOWN
OUTSIDE THE BUILDING AND DO OUR
HE SHE SAYS HE COULDN'T EVEN
GET IN THE BUILDING. AND I SAW.
>> THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT OF THE
ROOM AND A LOT
OF POLICE. KARIN INCHES SAYS
IT IS RIGHT NOW GOTTEN THE.
BUT AS WE LEFT, WE WENT TO
MIDDLE AND THEN WHEN EVERYTHING
I SAID ARE DOWN, WE CAME BACK.
THE SPOKESPERSON SAID HE CAN
SHARE WHAT CONSEQUENCES THE
STUDENT WOULD FACE. BUT IN THE
SCHOOL'S POLICY, I FOUND THAT
BRINGING A BB GUN WOULD MEAN AN
UP TO 10 DAY SUSPENSION FOR
THE FIRST OFFENSE FOR EVEN
LONGER THE SECOND TIME, WHETHER
IT'S.
>> I-29 OR NOT. YOU HAVE TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT POLICY AND
PROCEDURE IN PLACE. I TALKED
TO AT LEAST SOME YOUR WHO
CONSULTS WITH INSTITUTIONS LIKE
SCHOOLS TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR
SECURITY.
>> SHE SAYS SHE'S SEEN MORE
INCIDENTS OF STUDENTS BRINGING
BB GUNS TO SCHOOL. YOU HAVE TO
TAKE EVERY DETECTION SERIOUSLY.
WELL, MULE AND DISTRICT
OFFICIALS APPLAUD THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WEAPON
DETECTION SYSTEMS. WAKE COUNTY
SCHOOLS HASN'T TAKEN THAT STEP.
>> THE DISTRICT TELLS WRAL,
QUOTE, WE CONTINUE TO EXAMINE
THE USE OF THE SYSTEMS AS
SCHOOL SAFETY CONDITIONS
EVOLVE.
>> THIS IS NOT SLOWING DOWN
THESE EVENTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY
HAPPENING OVER AND OVER THOSE
SECONDS REALLY MATTER.
>> NOW OUR INVESTIGATIVE TEAM
TOOK A DEEPER DIVE INTO THESE
WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEMS AND
HOW EFFECTIVE THEY ARE IN NORTH
CAROLINA. YOU CAN FIND THAT
REPORTING ON WRAL DOT COM HERE
IN JOHNSON COUNTY, THE SCHOOL
AND BACK TO NORMAL OPERATIONS
FAIRLY QUICKLY. AND MOST
IMPORTANT THING, YOU KNOW, ONE