In an alarming series of events, four firearms have been discovered at or near two high schools in St. Paul within the past week, according to the local police department. The incidents involved three students who were apprehended, with two cases occurring on the same day at different schools.
On Thursday, a 13-year-old student was found carrying a gun at Humboldt High School on Baker Street. In a separate incident at Harding High School on East Sixth Street, a 15-year-old student was arrested outside the premises after making threats to the school while armed. Earlier in the week, two guns were discovered in a backpack inside Harding High School.
These incidents mark the first occurrences of firearms found on St. Paul Public Schools property this academic year. Last year, five firearms were seized. School district authorities and police have been transparent in sharing details concerning these recent developments.
The situation at Harding High School unfolded as follows: At approximately 2:10 p.m. on Thursday, a report was made regarding a potential armed student outside the school. Despite not being on school grounds, the student had threatened to bring a firearm to the campus. Law enforcement located him in a nearby wooded area and made an arrest.
Earlier that day, just before 9:40 a.m., another Harding student allegedly sent a video featuring a gun as a threat to another student. However, no weapon was found upon investigation. Consequently, the principal increased security measures and communicated with parents regarding the events.
In a prior incident at Harding, occurring on April 11, a 15-year-old student had posted a social media image of himself holding a gun. A subsequent search of the student revealed no weapon, but surveillance footage showed the student passing a backpack to a female peer. This led to the discovery of two firearms, one reported stolen, in the girl’s locker. Both students were detained, although the girl claimed she was unaware of the contents.
At Humboldt High School, staff were alerted to a firearm situation around 3 p.m. Thursday. An initial search had revealed an empty holster, leading to the dismissal of a student. Following a tip-off, another student, aged 13, was found with a firearm in his backpack. The gun was allegedly entrusted to him by a fellow student. The 14-year-old owner of the weapon later surrendered to police.
Both school principals, Valerie Littles-Butler of Humboldt and Tony Chlebecek of Harding, have emphasized the importance of vigilance within the school community. They urge students and families to report any safety concerns and ensure firearms in homes are securely stored to prevent access by minors.