Extra security on-hand at Perry day after student brought gun to school

PITTSBURGH — Extra security was on-hand Thursday at Perry Traditional Academy the day after a student was found with a gun inside the school.

The school was briefly placed on lockdown Wednesday after police detained the student.

Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said a student notified security about the student in possession of a gun.

According to Pugh, the student with the gun was immediately apprehended and detained. The weapon was then safely removed from the building.

Pugh said she doesn't know if the gun was loaded and said school officials don't yet know "what his intentions were" when the student was found with the handgun.

Pugh added that the student is relatively new to the school, so authorities don't believe he had the gun in connection with street gang members who are known to be active in that school and others in the city.

The student’s grandmother, Sharon Troutman, told Channel 11 News that her grandson is wrongfully accused.

According to Troutman, her grandson saw another boy from a gang who threatened him throw the gun away during a fire drill.

“I want to make it clear that he didn’t take the gun to school. He found it in the rubbish can,” Troutman said. “But instead of putting it in his pocket, he should have reported it.”

Troutman said her grandson was suspended from school and is awaiting a hearing Friday.

Students told Channel 11’s Cara Sapida they were placed on lockdown for about two periods while police investigated.

Principal Nina Sacco said she thanked the student who brought the information forward about the gun. She stressed the importance of the role students play in keeping their school safe.

Pugh said parents and families of Perry students were notified about the incident.

The school will have an increased security presence for the remained of the week, including K-9 officers.

The incident remains under investigation.

WPXI