Toy gun gets 6th grader suspended

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) – A sixth grader was suspended after police say the student brought a replica gun to school.

According to Deputy Chief David DeCesare, students at the Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School told the school resource officer and the principal that the student had been showing the toy gun to students on Tuesday.

"A student was showing off a toy replica handgun to some of the other students in the class. So they alerted the School Resource Officer as well as the school principal. So the school administration took immediate action," he said.

School officials searched the student’s locker and found an Airsoft Spring Gun, which fires plastic pellets. The barrel tip, which is usually painted red or orange to distinguish it as a toy, had been blackened by marker.

"The barrel of the weapon, which should be red in color, which would indicate it's a toy, had been blackened out with some type of marker. So that's a concern to us.  The fact that it comes with a magazine cartridge gives it the appearance that this is an actual firearm,"said DeCesare.

The student’s parents were contacted and the student was referred to the Johnston-Smithfield Regional Hearing Board for being in possession of a weapon other than a firearm.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bernard DiLullo Jr. confirms that the student was suspended and will remain suspended under the zero-tolerance policy until the hearing.