12-Year-Old Brought Loaded Gun To School, Arrested: East Chicago Police

EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA — A 12-year-old was arrested and charged Tuesday after bringing a gun to school in East Chicago, according to police.

Officers responded around 8 a.m. to Lighthouse Charter School, 3916 Pulaski St., where they took the child into custody in the principal’s office and recovered a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun, police said.

A student had overhead peers talking about a gun in the school and reported the situation to a teacher, according to police. Staff identified the student with the gun, separated the child from their peers and placed the school on soft lockdown, police said. Parents were notified of the incident and classes resumed as usual once the threat was addressed, according to police.

Starting Wednesday, student bags will be checked by school personnel with metal detectors, according to a message from Lighthouse Charter shared on Facebook by police. The school also asked parents to check their children’s bags before students leave for the day.

“Please continue to reinforce with your scholars that they should report to an adult if they hear or see something unsafe,” the message said. “Please continue to talk with your scholars regarding the importance of speaking up if they hear or see anything.”

The child who had the gun was taken to jail for processing and then brought to the Lake County Juvenile Jail on charges of gun possession and possession of a firearm on school property, according to police.