By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Reports that an Orland High School student had brought a firearm to campus and brandished it sent many parents and students into a panic on Tuesday.
According to a press release from the Orland Police Department, at 9:44 a.m. on April 9, Orland police officers were contacted by Orland High School administrators regarding a student brandishing a firearm.
Officers contacted several witnesses, who confirmed a 16-year-old male student brandished what was described as a black handgun.
While officers were investigating the incident, the high school was placed on a lockdown.
Officers were canvassing the area for the suspect, described as a white male juvenile wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
The boy called the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office communications center to surrender himself to law enforcement. Officers with the Orland Police Department and California Highway Patrol located the boy in the area of First Street and Swift Street in Orland.
The boy was detained without incident. During the investigation a replica firearm was found.
The juvenile was arrested and charged with alleged possession of a replica firearm in public and on school campus, making criminal threats, and brandishing a replica firearm. The boy was turned over to the Glenn County Probation Department.
This investigation is on-going. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Orland Police Department Officer Lowery at 530-865-1616.
At 10:53 a.m., Victor Perry, Superintendent of the Orland Unified School District, sent out the following message:
“Your student is safe…. At approximately 10:29 a.m. on 4/9/24 Orland High School and North Valley High School went into a precautionary shelter in place.
“Staff have secured the areas for which they are responsible and will remain inside with students until further notice.
“Traffic inside and outside the area may be restricted, and you are asked to avoid this area until further notice. Please do not call for come to the school.
“Additional information will be communicated to you as soon as possible. Thank you.”
At about 1 p.m., the Orland Unified School District issued this press release:
“After the start of school today, the District received a report that a student had brought a weapon to the Orland High School campus, which the District later learned was a BB gun.
“District personnel took prompt and immediate steps for the protection and safety of students and staff, and initiated a shelter in place. The District immediately engaged law enforcement, and the Orland Police Department and California Highway Patrol responded to the school site.
“The District also locked down North Valley High School until law enforcement declared it safe for normal school activities to resume.
“Fortunately, no students or staff members were hurt, and the BB gun was not discharged on campus.
“The district takes this situation very seriously and is continuing to work with the Orland Police Department as they investigate this matter.
“While the District understands the desire for more information, there are specific laws that govern school districts that prohibit the District from sharing details of an ongoing investigation involving students.
“We will continue to work closely with law enforcement, mental health professionals, parents, and others committed to providing a safe learning and working environment for our students and staff.
“If you have any additional information regarding this matter, please call the District’s Superintendent, Victor Perry at 530-865-1200.
As mentioned above, some parents and other family members were highly agitated by the lack of detailed information from the school district. Others, however, felt the district acted appropriately.
One person on Facebook finally got fed up with a panicky family member of a student. The person wrote:
“It was a BB gun. You are freaking people out. The parents got updates as it was happening.”
The Glenn County Observer 