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Rumor Mill in Overdrive at Conrad High School: Did a Student Bring a Gun to School?

By Kacey Drescher

Story Created: Feb 1, 2012 at 11:32 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 1, 2012 at 11:49 PM MDT

On Wednesday, ABC 5 received some disturbing emails from concerned parents from the Conrad community; these emails are about a student allegedly bringing a weapon to school.

As Adele would sing, “Rumor Has It,” Conrad parents tell ABC 5 their children came home and told them that police were at school with dogs, a student pulled a gun in class and part of the school was on lock down.

One parent says schools are to have a zero-tolerance policy and the incident should have been a code blue and parents should have been informed.

But school administrators say what parents heard through the grapevine didn't even happen.

High school and the rumor mill unfortunately go hand in hand but Tuesday’s gossip at Conrad High School had students and parents fearing the worst.

"There’s a rumor going around that a kid in our school threatened to bring a gun," says Conrad High Student Steven Peters.

"He brought a gun because he wanted to shoot somebody,” says Conrad 10th grader Jackie Miller.

From an alleged kill list, to a school lock down and a student being taken into custody, rumors flew through the school with a vengeance.

"Some people are worried but it's just a rumor," adds Peters - and Conrad High's Principal Ken Larson says that's all it was.

"You whisper in one kids ear and then they whisper in another and the next, the same story by the time it gets around the circle it's not the same story and that's what happened,” says Larson.

According to Larson police arrived at Conrad High School first thing Tuesday morning to check up on a student who had been behaving irrationally, so Larson says he took precautions and checked the students backpack. "He's acting irrationally, maybe we should check his backpack," adds Larson.

Principal Larson says the student then told his peers about the search and by the end of the day rumors about a gun being brought to school were running rampant.

"I have some friends that are still scared," adds Miller.

School administrators say thanks to Facebook and hearsay..."a rumor got out of hand."

Officials didn't want to alert the community about a danger that didn't exist. "No one brought a gun to school, the police had not taken him into custody and everything was safe, there was never a threat at any point,” says Principal Larson.

While Larson says there wasn't a threat the student in question is ill and was sent home with his parents, “the student is in capable hands now and we're confident that the community will support him and his family while he's in recovery,” he says.

Principal Larson adds that if there was a threat of violence or danger at his school he would have followed the Conrad High School’s Weapons Policy and the high school would have been on lock down.

Although many parents were upset the incident was not addressed, Principal Larson says there was no threat to report and he hopes the community can concentrate on the student that is receiving help.

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Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 6 at 11:01 AM

Conrad public schools have big problems with bulling from students to teachers. CHS would now even give help to national organization like S.A.V.E. in the school. S.A.V.E stands for Student Against Valiance Everywhere. Coming for a parent in which their daughter helped to start this program in Conrad when they where in the middle school along with a counselor from the local unit for abused women and children chapter. High school Principal would not give them there mail on time so that could conduct there meetings in the rite manner.

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 6 at 10:47 AM

Student is now in Kallispel because there was no problem.

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 6 at 10:44 AM

Why were cops call in if there was NO PROBLEM?

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 6 at 10:43 AM

This similar problem is the second time this has happen in in three years. Think there is a problem here in this town. Same things have happen in other town around the nation an we all know what they were and what happen with them.

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 6 at 10:32 AM

Why are people trying to hide a real problem?

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 6 at 10:31 AM

A friend of my daughter was sitting next to student when cops can in and removed him from the class room with cuffs on. (meaning under custody)School then let student back in school. Through the day student was allowed to leave school and go home then come back with know one escorting him. what if student when home an got a gun an returned or even worst took there own life. who would have been to blame.

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 6 at 10:25 AM

This all started do to the fact that they thought this student may have brought a gun to school. To find out later the student had a hit list.

Anonymous said on Monday, Feb 6 at 10:23 AM

Please check into this farther. Local Deputy transported student to great falls. Was not going to let there on child back in school except for that they know the student was gone!!!!!!!!!!

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