13-Year-Old Brings Gun To Middle School In Evanston, Police Say

EVANSTON, IL — An Evanston middle schooler brought a loaded gun to school Monday, police said, leading to a brief soft lockdown.

Officers were dispatched around 11 a.m. to Chute Middle School, 1400 Oakton St., for a report that school staff had just taken a handgun from a student, according to police.

Police said a 13-year-old Evanston boy had shown a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol to other students, one of whom alerted school staff.

School staff found the armed student and were able to take his gun away without resistance before officers arrived, according to police.

According to police, there is no indication of any credible threats against other students or staff at Evanston/Skokie School District 65 schools.

The boy was taken to the Evanston Police Department for further investigation, where he remained Monday afternoon.

There was no immediate word on what juvenile charges prosecutors intend to approve for the boy — or whether the gun's owner could also face criminal charges.

The incident marks the second time in three months that police found a handgun at an Evanston public school.

An Evanston Township High School student was arrested Nov. 6 after bringing a loaded gun to school, the fourth gun found at the campus since December 2021.

UPDATE: Gun Brought To Evanston School Was Stolen From Car The Prior Night