Sheriff: 12-year-old Granite Falls student arrested for bringing inoperable gun to school

GRANITE FALLS, Wash. -- A 12-year-old Granite Falls Middle School student was arrested Tuesday for bringing an inoperable gun to school, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said.

He was booked into the Denny Youth Center for possession of a firearm on school grounds, the sheriff's office said. It wasn't disclosed what made the gun "inoperable."

After school was dismissed, the boy displayed the gun to a group of students off campus at about 4:30 p.m., sheriff's office spokeswoman Shari Ireton said. One of the students managed to take the gun away from the boy and then ran to get help from adults nearby.

No one was injured in the incident.

The Granite Falls School District issued the following statement Tuesday night:

"The Granite Falls School District learned about the incident this evening. The 12-year-old middle school student was taken into custody and booked into the Denny Youth Center for possession of firearm on school grounds.  No one was injured in the incident. ALL STUDENTS ARE SAFE. School officials are taking appropriate action. We are working with the Sheriff’s Department as this is an ongoing investigation. If more information becomes available we will share it.

"School will be operating on a normal schedule. The Granite Falls Middle School, in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department, will hold an assembly tomorrow.

"There are several students that will be commended for their notable reaction to the site of a firearm. One student was able to retrieve the firearm and take it to a nearby adult who then called 911. Other students provided information to the adult and police.

"The granite falls middle school and Snohomish county sheriffs department will hold an assembly tomorrow, October 7, to explain the situation to students and reinforce the need to report information, incidents or potential situations, to a trusted adult. And to call 911.

"We are proud of how our students reacted to the situation. We are very thankful that all students are safe."