Skinner Middle School Parents Have Questions After Handguns Found
DENVER (CBS4)- Students at Skinner Middle School returned to school on Tuesday after police arrested three students for allegedy bringing two guns and a smoke device to campus on Friday.
Parents and school staff met on Monday night to discuss the situation and what happened.
There were mixed reactions from parents. Some left early, stating they didn't feel like their questions were being answered.
"I just feel like they didn't answer anything," said one mother.
Other parents believe the school could have done a better job of notifying them about the situation.
"Everybody's been able to talk about it now and I feel that our kids are safe," said one mother.
Parents who attended the closed door meeting said a lot of concern focused on the motive but also how they were notified.
"There were a lot of concerns about the media getting the news before the parents did. A lot of parents were upset about that," said one mother.
On Friday, the school was placed on lockdown after reports of weapons and a suspicious device were brought into the school. Police arrested three juveniles. No one was hurt.
Michael Eaton, Denver Public Schools Chief of Security, said their top priority is the safety of everyone in the building.
As for the motive, it doesn't change the outcome.
"Anyone who carries a firearm into a school, specifically K-12, it's a mandatory expulsion, so DPS will be looking into that," said Eaton.
Two of the three students arrested are brothers. A family member told CBS4 the siblings did not get the guns from their mother's home.
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.
Investigators said the students had no intention of harming anyone.
