Student's Cell Phone Mistaken For Gun At Southington High School

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A Southington High School student was charged with breach of peace after they mimicked "racking a round," leading another student to believe their cell phone was a handgun, Southington police said.

On Thursday morning, a student told staff they thought they saw another student with a gun, police said. The school went into "secure school mode" and officers responded at around 10:07 a.m., police said.

Using video surveillance, the school identified the person as a 17-year-old student and the object as a cell phone. Police determined that the student made a gesture, intended to mimic "racking a round," that caused the phone to be mistaken as a gun.

The student was issued a juvenile summons, charged with breach of peace, and released to their parent. Police said the school will be "considering further discipline."

The incident happened during passing time in the hallway and the school went into secure mode following it, police said.

After officials determined the suspicious object was a cell phone, the school day resumed as scheduled.