Gun threat leads to charge against Newton 15-year-old

A 15-year-old student in the Newton Community School District was charged with first-degree harassment after allegedly showing another student a handgun, which authorities later revealed to be a toy.

According to a press release from Newton Police Department, the incident took place at around 4:43 p.m. Jan. 11. The school district contacted the NPD after it had received information that the unnamed male student allegedly made a comment to a peer that he was going to fire the weapon during an event at the school gymnasium later than evening.

Officers were immediately sent to Newton High School and secured the facility, the release stated.

“The student was not found in or near the facility and no incidents occurred during the evening event,” the release said.

Officers continued the search for the student in the Newton area, and he was found at 8:34 p.m. inside his residence. After talking to the student, officers determined his comments about the shooting were not credible and isolated to the one interaction, police said.

“The 15-year-old male student did have a toy handgun in his school backpack, which was confiscated by the Newton Police Department. The student and his parents were notified he was not allowed to return to school until contacted by school administration,” the release said.

Documents state Newton police waited to inform the public of the incident to prevent interference with the ongoing investigation. During that time, officers interviewed several witnesses and watched hours of video surveillance, and determined it was an isolated incident and there was no handgun-related threat to the school district.

Contact Orrin Shawl at
641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or oshawl@newtondailynews.com