Student detained after shooting at Lucy Addison Middle School

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - A student was detained Tuesday after a gun was fired on campus at Lucy Addison Middle School in Roanoke.

Roanoke Police school resource officers were called by school personnel Tuesday afternoon of a situation in one of the school’s restrooms. The SROs found a gun and property damage related to a shooting.

The school was placed on lockdown and the SROs secured the restroom area.

No injuries were reported.

Roanoke Police identified the student allegedly involved and detained him for questioning. He was taken to juvenile intake, where petitions for possession of a firearm on school grounds and discharging a firearm on school grounds were obtained. The boy was taken to Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center.

One student in class describes being confused when he heard the gunshot.

“I had my headphones on and then when I heard it, it was still loud,” explained 8th grade student Andre Edwards. “I went outside the classroom, and everyone was confused, like, what happened? And then I heard screaming so I thought somebody got shot.”

Police believe there is no continued threat to Lucy Addison or any other Roanoke City School.

The lockdown lasted from when the gun was fired at 2:15 for about an hour. Parents lined 5th Street, anxious to pick up their children, and many expressed their frustration to Roanoke City Public Schools Superintendent Verletta White, asking for metal detectors and additional safety measures.

White said “nothing is off the table” when it comes to the safety of students.

Below is an excerpt from Roanoke City Public Schools:

Thank you to our students, staff, and parents/guardians for their understanding. School counselors are available to support anyone who may need assistance, and additional counselors will also be available at the school for students and staff. For immediate assistance, Carilion Connect is available by calling (540) 981.8181.

Lucy Addison staff will be at the school tomorrow bright and early to welcome students back. We want our students and staff to know we are here for them and that their safety is always our top priority. There will also be additional police presence at the school.

Roanoke City Public Schools has a zero-tolerance policy about weapons in school, including anything resembling a weapon. We ask parents and guardians to speak with their children to make sure they understand this policy and that if students see something, to always say something.

Police say the incident remains under investigation.

Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea spoke to WDBJ7 after the news Tuesday and called for metal detectors to be in schools:

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