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3 Boys Who Brought Guns, Smoke Device To School Formally Charged

DENVER (CBS4) - Three boys accused of bringing two handguns and a smoke device to Skinner Middle School last Friday have been formally charged.

According to Lynn Kimbrough with the district attorney's office, a 14-year-old and 12-year-old are each charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds and possession of a handgun by a juvenile. Another 12-year-old is charged with explosive/hoax. They will be charged as juveniles.

The boys all remain in custody.

"There was actually no indication there was a specific or serious threat to a teacher or staff members," said Kimbrough.

The school was placed on lockdown last Friday after reports of weapons and a suspicious device were brought into the school. Police arrested the three juveniles. No one was hurt.

Skinner Middle School
(credit: CBS)

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 say they now believe there was no intention to harm anyone with the handguns and the suspicious device found at the school. The motive remains unclear.

"The kids were questioned. They did provide some information. It might help provide some explanation for what unfolded," said Kimbrough.

It's not clear if the parents of the students who brought the weapons into the school could be held responsible.

"They are kids but they did something extremely dangerous and could have had far reaching consequences," said one mother.

Some parents told CBS4 news that nearly a week later, their children are doing well.

"I think he was scared and felt safe with his classroom teacher and I think he's back to normal," said parent Anna Kullinger.

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