Scott City Middle School student in custody after bringing BB gun to school parking lot

SCOTT CITY, Mo. (KBSI) – Police are investigating after a Scott City Middle School student brought a BB gun to the school parking lot Thursday morning.

The school sent a text to parents saying several students reported seeing the weapon.

School staff and the school resource officer approached the student in the parking lot while Scott City police responded to a call and came to the scene.

According to the report the student was showing other students what looked like a handgun out in the parking lot of the school. Some of the students then alerted teachers who alerted the school resource officer who alerted Scott City Police Department. 

“Whenever he was approached by officers, he did take off running for a short distance and from that point forward he was taken into custody” says Scott City Police Chief Chriss Griggs. 

Law enforcement took the student into custody.

Chief Griggs says they believe the gun was a BB gun.

“It looked like from what we can tell at this point the weapon may have been a BB gun but to look at this gun there’s no markings on it to indicate whether it’s a fake gun or real gun as far as it being a fake gun, it certainly looks real.” 

The building is safe. Classes began on schedule without disruption. The student and weapon never entered the building, according to the message from the school.

There is an active police investigation.

Stay with FOX23 News for updates.