Child Points BB Gun At High School Bus In Manchester: Officials

MANCHESTER, NH — Police are investigating after a Southside Middle School student reportedly approached a Memorial High School bus while "brandishing a BB gun" Tuesday morning, according to a notice from the schools' superintendent to the community.

"While the bus driver was able to safely drive away and no one was hurt, this is the second incident involving a weapon in two days," Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Chmiel, Ed.D wrote in the message.

The incident Tuesday morning occurred just one day after "a male brandished a weapon in the parking lot" at Memorial High School, Chmiel said, adding that "These two incidents are extremely troubling and absolutely unacceptable."

Monday's incident occurred around 8 a.m., when 18-year-old Tyson Lennartson, who is not a student at the school, was accused of holding the gun under his clothing in the parking lot near the stadium, according to Manchester police.

The school was placed into a "secure campus" and Lennartson was soon after found at a nearby business off campus, police said. He is facing a charge of disorderly conduct and criminal threatening.

Following both incidents, guidance support was made available at Memorial, and, according to Chmiel, there was additional police presence in the Memorial and Southside area for the remainder of Tuesday.

"Student and staff safety is our utmost priority and as such we take incidents that violate our Code of Conduct and/or the law with the highest level of concern," according to Chmiel. "We will continue to work closely with Manchester Police to fully investigate and process these cases. In addition to any criminal charges that may be filed, the District will hold its students accountable under the Student Code of Conduct."

Chmiel added that the district safety team will continue to work in partnership with school leadership, students, and families "to maintain safe learning environments that allow our students to thrive."