Coupeville Middle School teen taken into custody over shooting concerns
By JESSIE STENSLAND
Whidbey News Times Assistant editor
Sep 26 2008
A report of a student planning a school shooting in Coupeville turned out to be more benign than originally thought, according to the Island County Sheriff's Office.
On Thursday, a concerned parent reported that her daughter received worrisome text messages and photos from a 13-year-old student at Coupeville Middle School. The images appeared to show the boy holding a rifle.
The content of the messages and photos led the parent to believe the student may have been planning violence at the school the following morning.
Deputies from the Island County Sheriff’s Office and Coupeville Marshal’s Office responded to the suspect’s home and took him into custody without incident.
A further investigation revealed that the weapons displayed in the photos were actually toys commonly referred to as airsoft guns.
The boy was transported to the Island County Juvenile Detention Center where he was held for court. His father is cooperating fully with the investigation.
Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland can be reached at jstensland@whidbeynewstimes.com or 360.675.6611.
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