Student held with BB gun outside Moline High School, statement on school issues

MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) – Police say a 12-year-old with a BB gun was detained outside John Deere Middle School Tuesday morning.

According to Moline police, they received a 911 call at 7:30 a.m. from a student on a Metrolink city bus, reporting that a Moline district student had a gun on the bus. The caller described the person and the number of the bus they were on.

Police said they responded and arrested the student and discovered they were in possession of a BB gun that appeared identical to a real gun.

Officials said there is no danger to students and education was not disrupted.

Moline police said the student who called did exactly what police ask the public to do: see something, say something.

The Moline-Coal Valley School District released the following statement:

“The Moline-Coal Valley School District is grateful for the immediate response of the Moline Police Department in resolving the incident that occurred on the MetroLink bus prior to the start of the school day,” said Superintendent Dr. Rachel Savage. “We recognize and applaud the actions of the student from the neighboring school district who remembered the importance of speaking out. We encourage anyone who sees something to say something.”

The case remains under investigation by the Moline Police Department’s Youth Unit.