By Christopher Edmunds

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Tipton Durant Middle School in Selmont went into lockdown early Tuesday morning after a student brought a toy gun to school.

After a student told school officials that another student had what looked like a gun, the school began its lockdown procedure, and the Selma Police Department was contacted at 9:31 a.m.

Superintendent Don Willingham said hallway camera footage was used to identify three seventh grade students who handled the toy gun, including the student who brought it to school.

The student was taken to a separate room to be questioned.

“We searched him, and he had a cap gun in his pocket,” Willingham said. “It was realistic, but there was no harm.”

Police identified the gun as a black, metal-frame “Cap-Pistol” revolver with the cylinder missing.

A cap gun is a toy gun that produces a loud gunshot sound by using small amounts of shock-sensitive explosive compounds.

Lt. Curtis Muhannad with the Selma Police Department said the student may be facing administrative punitive action and criminal charges.

Muhannad said cap guns do not fall into the same category as bombs.

Willingham said the staff at Tipton Durant Middle School handled the situation calmly and effectively.

“We were able to deal with it without any kind of panic,” he said. “I hate that we had to do it, but the fact that it went so smoothly was pleasing. Compliments to the Selma Police Department and the staff at Tipton.”