Tuesday, November 17, 2009

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Police: Student intended to sell knives at school

NEWBURYPORT, Mass -- A 14-year-old boy on the North Shore is accused of bringing knives to school and trying to sell them.

Police said the student came to Newburyport High School with seven knives.

"Our understanding is that the knives were there to possibly be sold to other people," said Marshal Thomas Howard, of the Newburyport Police Department.

The school said it was students coming forward and the school resource officer who stopped the freshman before he made any sales.

Newburyport Superintendent Deidre Farrell sent a letter home to parents saying that the 14-year-old said, "...he had previously sold two knives to a student off school property."

Police said most of the knives were pocket knives but they were extremely troubled to find an illegal switchblade.

"It's a double edge knife with a spring-loaded release on it, which by the mere design of the knife is outlawed," Howard said.

Because of that knife, the student is facing felony charges.

The school said the boy is normally a good student.

In the letter to parents, the superintendent also said, "As disturbing as this situation was, I do not believe that other students, faculty, and staff were imminent danger. I don't believe the student who possessed the knives had an evil intent to use the knives in school or against other students."

The student has been suspended and the case is in the hands of the court.

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