Port Barre, La. (9/01/2023) – On August 25th, 2023, the Port Barre Police Department received information that a 12 year old middle school student brought a replica pistol to school.
Police learned the 12 year old male juvenile had a verbal confrontation with two other students a few days prior. In return brought the pistol to school to threaten them. When the school faculty learned the student was in possession of the fake pistol, it was taken from him.
The Port Barre Police Department opened a criminal investigation and were able to interview witnesses along with the 12 year old suspect. Police retrieved the pistol from the school and examined it. The pistol is a plastic toy replica.
Unfortunately, we live in a time where violence in schools have become more common. The past decade plus, we have been seeing more violence in preteen and teenagers, not just in our community, but in other communities as well. Although this pistol is not a real firearm, we must take these types of investigations seriously. The toy pistol is very realistic looking and can certainly cause others to be in fear of it.
The 12 year old student was arrested and charged with the Louisiana state law for Attempt to Terrorize/Menace.
“Using weapons, even fake weapons, at school to threaten or cause fear to other students and faculty cannot be tolerated. I believe school security should be a priority amongst the conversations of the leaders and law makers of our country, state and local governments. In my opinion, there should be police officers assigned and stationed at every school. The biggest obstacle is funding. Particularly, small towns, and rural low income, low economically developed parishes cannot afford to place police officers in every school. However, the cost of protecting our children should be the responsibility of the state and federal government, and they need to figure out a way to manage our tax dollars and direct it for the safety of our schools.”
Chief Deon R. Boudreaux
