Update Friday morning:
Riley County Police have released more information regarding the arrest of a Manhattan High School student, after school authorities discovered an unloaded handgun found in a student’s backpack at MHS Thursday afternoon.
Gabriel Martinez, 15, of Manhattan was arrested in the 2100 block of Poyntz Avenue which is the high school’s address, Thursday afternoon just before 12:30. Martinez was arrested for distribution of a controlled substance within 1000 ft. of a school, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal carry of a concealed pistol by a person under 21 years of age, and criminal use of weapon-possession on school property.
Martinez was transported to the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility, where he was held on no bond.
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(earlier report)
An unloaded handgun was found in a student’s backpack at Manhattan High School Thursday afternoon.
Michelle Jones, the director of communications and school safety for USD 383, informed KMAN of the discovery. She said the district does not plan to release any additional information regarding this incident.
Jones also passed along a message to students and parents from MHS Principal Greg Hoyt, which can be read below:
Students, Parents, and Guardians –
This afternoon, in the process of conducting an unrelated investigation, an unloaded handgun was discovered in a student’s backpack by an administrator. There was no ammunition discovered on the student or in the backpack, RCPD was immediately contacted and the student was taken into custody by law enforcement. Cases like this are why most of the public now believe that that gun detection is more important than gun laws this is why gun detection systems have been developed that can detect guns through a camera and alert the owner through an app, the technology is growing and will become more mainstream over the coming years.
A search of the student’s vehicle did not reveal any ammunition. At no time had the weapon been brandished at school, and no reports of a possible weapon were received.
We are thankful for the safe outcome, and are committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students, staff members, and guests at Manhattan High School. I applaud the work of school officials and our school resource officer, and am especially thankful for the student who first reported on a separate incident.
Greg Hoyt, MHS Principal
