Student who allegedly brought gun to school has been expelled

SOURCE: DAILY OBSERVER The 15-year-old male student who allegedly took a firearm to school has been expelled, Director of Education Clare Browne told Observer yesterday.

In late September news broke that the young man was spotted with a firearm on the Clare Hall Secondary School compound, which prompted law enforcement and education officials to enforce an immediate lockdown of the institution to facilitate a search.

However, while the weapon was not found, the teenager, along with other students, were taken into custody, but only the 15-year-old was charged.

The Ministry’s decision to expel him from the public school system came after the student admitted to bringing a loaded weapon containing “six or seven rounds” onto the school premises, during a meeting on Monday with his parents.

“You can’t bring a loaded gun into school, and you get a slap on the wrist,” Browne said, confirming that the student had confessed to the incident. “He said so within my hearing that he brought the gun into school.”

The investigation has widened to include several other students who may have been involved in the incident. According to Browne, approximately eight young men were questioned, and their parents were called in for meetings. “We met with the parents of everyone,” he added, highlighting the administration’s thorough approach to the

While the main perpetrator faces the most severe consequences, the Director of Education said seven other students have been placed on behavioural contracts.

“Those seven young men were placed on contracts,” Browne explained. “They’re required to work hard, behave well; they’re also required to perform some major community service that will be monitored by the school.”

The director added that some of these students may not have been directly connected to the incident but were questioned as part of the ongoing investigation, and community service is being implemented as a corrective measure, with the school taking responsibility for monitoring their progress.

Regarding the primary individual, Browne was unequivocal about the seriousness of the situation, saying: “Anybody who brings a firearm into school, a loaded firearm with six or seven rounds, certainly you’re endangering the lives of those who operate within the school.”

The student, who cannot be named due to his age, will not be permitted to return to Clare Hall Secondary or any other public secondary school. However, the Ministry of Education has committed to assisting the student in pursuing his education through alternative means.

“He has reached a certain chronological stage and so his parents will have to make provisions for him to continue his education outside of the public secondary school system,” Browne said.

The director’s decision reflects a zero-tolerance approach to weapons in schools, citing the serious disruption and fear the incident caused.

“It was a lot of deprivation. People were deprived of lunch … people started to feel unsafe,” he said in relation to the lockdown.

Since the incident occurred on September 27 the 15 year old has not received any formal educational or vocational training.

Immediately after the incident, he had been placed on remand after appearing before the Child Justice Board. However, he was granted bail on November 5 after a second application was made in the High Court by his attorney Peyton Knight.

He faces a charge of having a firearm in his possession in furtherance of an offence, which is an offence under Section 13(1) of the Firearm Act Chapter 171 of the Revised Edition 1992 of the Laws of Antigua and Barbuda.

While the ministry maintains its commitment to education for all students, including those who make serious mistakes, the incident has prompted a reinforcement of security measures across the nation’s schools.

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