The gun that caused a western Mass. school lock down was loaded
Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless says he’s “dismayed that the mayor’s office would release incorrect information to the public.’’
It turns out the gun discovered inside a locker at Herberg Middle School in Pittsfield Friday was loaded, contrary to what the mayor’s office first reported, according to The Berkshire Eagle.
The gun was discovered after a student notified a teacher. Staff then directed students to “shelter in place’’ while the gun was retrieved and handed over to the Pittsfield Police Department. No one was injured and the unnamed juvenile who brought the gun to school was taken into custody. Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi’s office then sent out a press release about the event, stating the weapon was not loaded
“The information we had from the Pittsfield Police Department was that the gun was fully loaded,’’ Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless told the Eagle. “I am dismayed that the mayor’s office would release incorrect information to the public.’’
Superintendent Jason McCandless, one of three officials quoted on the original release, told the Eagle it was his understanding that the gun was not loaded. Later, he issued an updated release stating, “The weapon had a loaded magazine in it, but no round in the chamber.’’
Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi told the Eagle he did not see the difference between a loaded gun and one with a clip that could be loaded. It is not clear who authored the release.
Read the full story in the Eagle.
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