Gun found at Hopkins North Jr. High School

Police
A police car.
MPR photo/Tom Weber

Police in Minnetonka are investigating an incident Tuesday in which a student at Hopkins North Junior High had a gun at the school.

The student was arrested after an employee at the school found the weapon during a search of the student's locker. The locker was being searched on an unrelated matter.

Disciplinary incidents
This graph, from a January 2008 report by the Minnesota Department of Education, shows a breakdown of all the disciplinary incidents that were reported during the 2006-2007 school year. These are the most recent data available. (click on the image for a larger view)
MPR photo/Tom Weber

Minnetonka police say the gun was never used in a threatening manner, and they're still investigating.

"It is typical to have weapons of various sorts located in our schools, not completely unusual," said Sgt. Tim Mulcrone, whose department has officers in six schools throughout the suburb. "But to have a firearm and ammunition, particularly of the quality that was found, is unusual."

Officials at the Hopkins School District have been unavailable for comment.

Schools are required to report incidents like these to the state Department of Education. The most recent numbers are from the 2006-2007 school year. During that year, there were 26 incidents of guns in schools. In all, there were 1,574 incidents with weapons were reported, mostly involving knives.