*Updated Jan. 25, 2023
A Carlmont student brought a pellet gun onto campus on Jan. 18.
According to an email sent to the Carlmont community by Principal Gay Buckland-Murray, the administration was informed that the student had brought a firearm onto campus, prompting the school to contact the Belmont Police Department.
However, after police arrested the suspected student and inspected their backpack it was revealed that they had a pellet gun rather than a firearm.
Junior Delia Paiko was among students who witnessed the arrest of the student during lunch.
“He was approached out of nowhere by the officer, and it was pretty calm. He didn’t try to fight back…and just did what they told him to do,” Paiko said. “I had never seen anything like that happen at Carlmont, so I thought it was weird that the police officer was just approaching the student at first.”
Pellet guns, also known as air guns, are guns that shoot spherical projectiles. They differ from firearms in that their pressure is significantly lower, making it extremely unlikely that they would pose a serious threat to humans.
According to Buckland-Murray, the student is now set to face disciplinary action. However, the specifics were left undisclosed in accordance with Sequoia Union High School District policy.
Buckland-Murray declined to comment on the incident.
*This is a breaking news story. The article will be updated with more information.
