Elementary Student Brings Gun to School in Barnesville
Parents of students in the Barnesville School District received an emergency text message from Superintendent Micah Fuchs. In the message, Fuchs informed families that a student had brought an unloaded gun, along with a magazine, to school inside a backpack.
Fuchs assured parents that law enforcement was immediately involved and that school staff followed all safety protocols. “There is no emergency situation at this time,” he emphasized.
Later in the day, around 5:30 p.m., Barnesville Police Chief Rocky Sirianni issued a statement providing additional details. According to Sirianni, police were called to the elementary school shortly after 9:00 a.m. when school staff reported having secured a pistol found in a student’s backpack. Police were told that a student had shown the firearm to other students, prompting a staff member to quickly intervene. The staff secured the backpack, took it to the office, and contacted the authorities.
Chief Sirianni confirmed that police took possession of the firearm and began investigating the incident. He added that, at this time, there is no indication the student intended to harm anyone. In a phone interview with Barnesville Area News, Sirianni praised the school’s response, saying, “The school did a great job. They did everything right.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and any potential charges will be reviewed by the prosecutor’s office.
Reflecting on the day’s events, Superintendent Fuchs expressed gratitude for the cooperation between the school and local law enforcement. “We are blessed to have such a great relationship with the Police Department here at Barnesville Schools,” he said. “This was a coordinated effort this morning. I am very thankful for the response of all involved, Police Department, Staff, and Administration.”
Chief Sirianni was on-site at the elementary school at the end of the school day.
Throughout the day, social media lit up with parents and community members questioning the absence of metal detectors at the school and asking why the school was not placed on lockdown. Sirianni responded to those concerns, explaining that based on the situation, a lockdown was not necessary and that all entrances to the district’s three buildings remain locked during the school day.
Although the district does not currently use metal detectors, it was revealed during past school board meetings that Middle School Principal Casey Mayo had previously discussed a potential donation to fund a metal detector at the middle school. Mayo had been working with both the Barnesville Police Department and the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office on the possibility of implementing the project.
In response to the day’s events, many parents have voiced their intent to attend the upcoming school board meeting. One Facebook post urging families to keep firearms secured at home received over 150 likes and more than 50 comments within hours.
The Barnesville School Board will hold its next meeting this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Middle School Cafetorium. It is expected that the topic of school safety will be a central focus.
