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Police Say Students Who Brought Guns To Skinner Middle School Intended No Harm

DENVER (CBS4) - Parents and the Denver police will meet Monday evening to talk about how two students brought guns to Skinner Middle School last Friday.

The principal and the chief of safety for Denver Public Schools will be on hand to talk to parents at the meeting.

The students who brought the weapons into the school are still in custody, but police say they now believe there was no intention to harm anyone with the handguns and the suspicious device found at the school.

Students and parents gathered outside campus Monday morning -- on a day off for students -- to say thanks the staff of Skinner Middle School. They said they appreciate how the staff handled the arrest of the three students for bringing two handguns and the suspicious device into the school.

skinner middle school
Skinner Middle School (credit: CBS)

Parent Nicole Kazenkse organized the rally.

"For my son, I know that he felt safe, and he told me that. I felt safe," Kazenkse said. "I think as a parent you just want to tell somebody you've entrusted with your child -- 'thank you.' "

Skinner Middle School
Skinner Middle School (credit: CBS)

"Unfortunately, in today's world we have to train for this in our schools," said Mike Eaton, Denver Public Schools Chief of Safety. "We conduct lockdown and lockout drills every semester. We have a detailed emergency plan."

CBS4 learned two of the three students arrested on Friday are brothers. A family member of the siblings said the guns didn't come from their mother's home. He also said the boys found the guns somewhere outside the home but would not be specific. Police aren't confirming those details about the handguns.

Denver Police At Skinner Middle School
Police outside Skinner Middle School during an incident in April 2015. (credit: CBS)

The family member also said the third child involved, who's being investigated for the suspicious device, is not related to the guns being found. He said it was a coincidence that it was all discovered on Friday.

Police won't confirm if the handguns and the device are separate incidents. They said they've not yet determined if the parents of the students who brought the weapons into the school could be held responsible, which is also part of the ongoing investigation.

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