A 14-year-old accused of flashing an Airsoft gun during a fight in a Central High School bathroom last week now faces two felony charges.
The sight of the Airsoft gun, which are nonlethal gun replicas that typically shoot pellets, compelled school staff to temporarily shut down the building as panic spread, officials said.
The young teen has since been charged by juvenile petition in Ramsey County District Court with felony-level counts of reckless endangerment and possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, according to a spokesman for the Ramsey County attorney’s office.
The 14-year-old also was charged with obstruction of the legal process, which is a gross misdemeanor.
Since he is under the age of 16, the teen’s name and the criminal complaint detailing the allegations against him are private.
Two 15-year-olds also were charged in the Sept. 18 incident, which officials say escalated after the 14-year-old revealed a weapon tucked inside his waistband during a fight in the school’s bathroom around 10:15 a.m. Seeing the gun caused people in the bathroom to panic and scatter, police said at the time. Officers later discovered the weapon was an Airsoft.
A couple of minutes later, there was a confrontation between the 14-year-old student and a 15-year-old student, officers said. The older student punched the younger one and knocked him to the ground, according to police.
Central High School Principal Mary Mackbee told parents in a letter that two students made plans over the weekend to fight each other at school. A verbal confrontation turned physical in the hallway during an early lunch period, and other students followed to watch, Mackbee wrote.
Authorities found an unloaded BB gun and three foldable knives, which were not used during the altercation, according to Mackbee. Police said the Airsoft was in a backpack.
The 14-year-old who was punched was taken to a hospital and apparently was found to have no injuries, Linders said.
Police arrested the 15-year-old who allegedly punched the boy on suspicion of assault; he was booked at the Ramsey County juvenile detention center.
The 14-year-old’s 15-year-old stepbrother was in the bathroom with him when the Airsoft was displayed and might have had a knife or knives on him, according to police.
One of the 15-year-olds has since been charged with misdemeanor-level fifth-degree assault. The other faces charges of felony-level possession of a dangerous weapon on school property and third-degree riot, which is a gross misdemeanor.
The next court appearance for the 14-year-old will be later this week. Court dates for the 15-year-olds will take place in November.