In a West Virginia high school, a 14-year-old boy held 29 students and a teacher at gunpoint yesterday.
 
The incident took place in Philip Barbour High School, in the north-central part of the State. “Yesterday afternoon, the student took a gun into a second-floor classroom,” said State Police Lt. Michael Baylous.

Teacher is the real hero

The teacher of the classroom maintained control, when the classes were about to change and for this, school superintendent Jeffrey Woofter applauded the teacher and also praised the Philippi police chief, for talking the suspect into giving up. The teacher handled the boy, so that the next group of students are safe, by not entering into the class room.
 
“Students, who tried to open the door to attend the next class, were asked to leave immediately. Understanding the situation, those students went across the hall to alert another teacher, who then alerted the school officials. An assistant principal rushed to the hallway outside the classroom, then called the office asking that police be alerted,” Woofter further said.
 
“Initially, no one took the warning seriously, but later, we all held hands and said a prayer,” said Kayla Smith, a 17-year old senior in the school.

Police negotiated to release the students

The police rushed to the spot after knowing the incident, and sent the rest of the students outside the class room to their residence.

“Philippi Police Chief Jeff Walters negotiated the students release from the classroom, and eventually got the suspect into surrendering, after a few hours,” said Woofter.
 
Also read: Juvenile Justice Board to assess, crime committed as a 'child' or as an 'adult'

The suspect was later taken to a hospital for evaluation and the Barbour County Prosecutor Leckta Poling said, “I planned to pursue unspecified charges against him. But as the suspect is very young, the court process would be closed.”

Keeping in mind the future of the kids, more than punishing by putting them behind the bars, a strict counseling might work out for the kids with criminal shade like the boy mentioned above.

By Phanindra