Reports of gun in school prompts search, suspect found with loaded weapon

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) - A high school in Dearborn Heights was placed on lockdown for a short time after a student reportedly showed up with a gun.

Police responded to Crestwood High School where a student showed the firearm to another student.

The sight of seeing a lot of police cruisers and officers on the campus startled parents like Maggie Bajji.  “The minute my son texted me I freaked out.  I  saw cops going by and I knew something was wrong,”  said Bajji.

One parent who did not want to be identified, said her son texted her with a message that said, “Hey turn on channel 7 news – stuff is about to go down.”  He also wrote, “I don’t know… there are cops cocking guns.”

 “My son text me and said mom, there’s a kid at the school with a gun.  I said oh my God and I started crying,”  said Bajji.

School officials say a student went directly to authorities after the 19 year old student pulled out a 5 shot Smith And Wesson revolver. 

“The student did report it…that saved everyone in the building,” said Crestwood School Superintendent Laurine VanValkenburg.

Once the school was in lockdown, several students told 7 Action News they were frightened including Moe Kassim.   According to the 11 ^th grader, there have been lockdown drills at the high school before but nothing prepared him emotionally for the real thing.

“It was scary because of the fact that a student brought a gun to school.  I’m sure that would be frightening to any student.  When you hear of a gun… the worst comes to mind,”  said Kassim.

Police found the teen responsible at Caroline Kennedy Library, near the high school.  He was taking an off campus class and was taken in to custody. 

Some parents say they were not notified of the ordeal directly and were upset.  “It’s not right,” said parent Moussa Musa as he waited for his teen to be dismissed from class for the day.

Police have not charged the student in custody.  Detectives tell 7 Action News they are investigating the matter.

VanValkenburg said the student will go through his due process and could either be suspended or expelled based on state law.