Police: Northwest High student brought gun to school for protection

A 17-year-old Northwest High student arrested for bringing a gun to school Wednesday told police he did it in response to threats made by gang members.

The gun was found in a boy’s restroom at the school and reported to staff, Lt. James Espinoza said. When they talked to the student, he admitted bringing it to school.

“This individual was very concerned for his well-being,” Espinoza said.

The student is affiliated with a gang, and rival gang members had come to his house earlier in the week and told him they would “try to get him” at school on Wednesday.

He was arrested and also suspended from school pending a disciplinary hearing. Wichita public schools have a policy that states a student can be expelled for up to 186 days if they are found in possession of a weapon on school grounds.

Espinoza called the student’s choice to bring the gun to school “a very bad decision.”

Investigators will look into the threats he reported.

“We’ll look into the whole thing,” Espinoza said.

This story was originally published January 22, 2015 at 12:36 PM with the headline "Police: Northwest High student brought gun to school for protection."