An 11-year-old student was arrested Tuesday morning after bringing a loaded handgun to Liberty Ridge Middle School in Spanaway, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began around 7:50 a.m. when a student reported seeing another student with a pistol in his backpack while riding the school bus. Staff members immediately notified Pierce County school resource officers upon receiving the report.
Campus security detained the suspect while officers conducted a backpack search that revealed a Sig .380 handgun with no magazine inserted and a single loose bullet. The weapon was accessible and posed a significant safety threat to students and staff.
Pierce County deputies determined the boy had located a key to a family member’s gun safe, which allowed him to access the firearm. The incident highlights concerns about secure firearm storage in homes with children.
The student was arrested and transported to Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center, where he will face charges related to bringing weapons onto school property. The specific charges were not immediately disclosed due to the suspect’s juvenile status.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Office officials indicated that school resource officers will work with the family to ensure proper security or removal of other weapons in the home to prevent future incidents.
The case underscores ongoing challenges schools face regarding student access to firearms and the importance of anonymous reporting systems that enabled another student to alert authorities quickly.
Liberty Ridge Middle School implemented appropriate safety protocols following the incident, with no injuries reported. The school likely conducted lockdown procedures while officers secured the weapon and detained the suspect.
The incident adds to growing concerns about youth access to firearms and the need for improved gun storage practices in households with children. Washington state has safe storage laws requiring secure firearm storage when minors could access weapons.
School officials emphasized the effectiveness of the “see something, say something” approach that led to the weapon’s discovery before any harm occurred to students or staff members.
The investigation continues as authorities examine how the child accessed the secured weapon and whether additional safety measures are needed to prevent similar incidents.
