St. Paul Schools: Gun Found In Student's Locker

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – For the second time this school year, a St. Paul student brought a gun to school, according to officials in the city's district.

In a statement issued Wednesday, St. Paul Public Schools said a student at Linwood Monroe Arts Plus brought a gun onto campus earlier that morning. The gun was found in the student's locker shortly after the school day began.

Officials say they put the school on lockdown after receiving a tip about the gun.

The gun was unloaded, school officials said, and it's not yet clear why the weapon was brought on campus.

Superintendent Valeria Silva said that while this is the second time a gun was found on school grounds this year, the problem is not specific to St. Paul.

"This is a reflection of our broader St. Paul and national community," she said in a statement.

St. Paul Public Schools has a zero tolerance policy for firearms on campus.

In October, a loaded gun was found in a student's backpack at Harding High School during a drug search.

Other incidents of violence in St. Paul schools have involved fights between students and teachers.

One teacher has even sued the district, saying he suffered a concussion when he tried to break up a fight in December.

In just the last few weeks, two other St. Paul teachers were involved in fights with students.