Update: Student charged for bringing handgun to school

Hannibal, Oswego Co. (WSYR-TV) - State police say the 12-year-old Kenney Middle School student who brought a gun on a school bus has now been charged with criminal possession of a weapon. 

The case will be handled in Oswego Family Court. The Hannibal School District says the boy showed the gun to several other students on the bus Friday morning. One of those students told a friend, who then told an adult. 

Police say the gun was not loaded. 

The district tell us the student was signed out of school at about 8:30 Friday morning.

Student brings handgun to middle school
June 22, 2009

Hannibal (WSYR-TV) - A 12-year-old middle schooler brought more than just books onto the school bus last week -- the Hannibal Central School District says he also had a pistol with him.

The incident happened Friday morning, and although the district is investigating, it isn't making some in the small community feel any better.

Exactly why the 12-year-old boy would bring a handgun to Kenney Middle School remains a mystery Monday night.

“It's just crazy -- you wouldn't think it would happen here in Hannibal,” says parent Pam Jacobs.

But it did. The school says the boy showed off the handgun to some other friends on the bus Friday morning; one of those students told an adult, who then alerted the school and police.

Some who ride the bus are now on alert.

“You never know if he could have tried to pull a gun on us or something,” says student Codey Hare.

The school says the boy was signed out by one of his parents at around 8:30 Friday morning, so the pistol was not on school grounds for that long, but that still doesn't do much to ease some concerned parents.

Even though police say the gun was not loaded, many parents say they are still considering driving their kids back and forth from school.

An early investigation showed the handgun was believed to be a pellet pistol. Later it was determined that the handgun was indeed a working pistol.

No criminal charges have yet been filed.