Sheriff says Missouri student had loaded handgun

HOPKINS, Mo. -- A northwest Missouri sheriff says authorities averted what "could have been a huge tragedy" after a 15-year-old student was taken into custody for allegedly having a loaded handgun in a school locker.

Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White said Tuesday he believed the student at North Nodaway High School may have been the victim of bullying and possibly was targeting specific students, The St. Joseph News-Press reported.

"It's our understanding that maybe this kid had been bullied a little bit and was tired of it," White said at a news conference. "I don't believe there was an actual list, but I think that there were specific students that were going to be targeted."

The sheriff said the student was taken into custody Monday after other students notified school officials the student had been talking about having a handgun. Officers with the sheriff's department responded and reportedly found a loaded .22-caliber pistol in the locker.

"He had additional ammunition with a pocket full of loose shells," White said. "I think this was the real thing, and I think we were very, very fortunate in being able to avoid something that could have been a huge tragedy."

White said the student will remain in juvenile detention while possible charges are considered.

The high school is in Hopkins, a town of about 530 residents about 100 miles north of Kansas City.

Information from: St. Joseph News-Press/St. Joe, Missouri, http://www.newspressnow.com