Barnesville Elementary Student Brings Gun to School

By Bruce Yarnall, Barnesville Area News  

Earlier today, parents of Barnesville Schools students received an emergency text alert from  Superintendent Micah Fuchs. 

“This is Micah Fuchs, superintendent of Barnesville Schools. I want to inform families that a student brought an unloaded weapon to school as well as the magazine in the book bag.”

Fuchs continued, “law enforcement is involved in the situation. The school is following safety protocols and procedures and there is no emergency situation at this time”.

Around 5:30 pm, Barnesville Police Chief Rocky Sirianni issued a statement on the incident.

“Barnesville Police are investigating an incident involving a pistol being in an elementary school student’s backpack. Barnesville Police responded to the elementary school shortly after 9:00 AM after being made aware that school staff was in possession of a pistol that was located in a student’s backpack.

“Upon arrival, Barnesville Police secured the firearm and began investigating the incident. School staff told police that a staff member was made aware that a student showed other students the pistol and that it was in their backpack. School staff acted quickly in securing the backpack, taking it to the office, and contacting police. The Police are continuing to investigate the incident”.

Sirianni continued “at this time there has been no indication that the student had any ill intent, also adding in a telephone interview tonight with Barnesville Area News, “the school did a great job. They did everything right”.  

“This is an ongoing investigation, and any charges will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review and approval,” the police chief said.

After the school day, Superintendent Fuchs said, “I will say that we are blessed to have such a great relationship with the Police Department here at Barnesville Schools. This was a coordinated effort this morning.  I am very thankful for the response of all involved in today’s situation, Police Department, Staff and Administration”.

The Police Chief was present at the elementary school at the end of the school day.

Social media posts during the day questioned why there is no metal detector at the school, while others questioned why the school was not put on lockdown.

Sirianni said there was no need for lockdown based on this incident and that all entrances to the district’s three school buildings are locked.

While there are no metal detectors at any of the three buildings, during several school board meetings last year, Middle School Principal Casey Mayo shared with the Board there was an offer from an individual willing to provide a substantial donation to install one at the middle school. At the time Mayo was also coordinating with the Barnesville Police Department and Belmont County Sheriff’s Office on the possible project.

Several of the social media posters today indicated they would attend the upcoming school board meeting. Within hours of the first post on a Barnesville Facebook group over 50 comments were logged and over 150 likes to the original post urging parents and guardians to lock up guns at home.

The School Board meeting gets underway this Thursday night at the Middle School Cafetorium at 5:30 pm.