ARLINGTON, Wash. — The Arlington Police Department has wrapped its investigation of what they initially said was an instance of an elementary school student bringing a gun on the bus.
The school district said that on Oct. 30, an elementary school student showed what looked like a folded cell phone that could change into a weapon on the bus on the way to Pioneer Elementary.
Another student on the bus alerted administration and the item was taken away from the student.
“Even though the item looked like a toy and the student described it as a toy, the Arlington Police Department was alerted. After looking at the item, it was determined that it was an unloaded firearm,” the district said in a letter to parents.
The district said the student who brought the weapon is receiving “appropriate discipline.”
However, on Nov. 6, the Arlington Police Department posted an update on Facebook with their findings about what happened.
“Following a thorough review and examination by the City’s Police Firearms Range Master, the item was determined to be a non-operable replica and not a functioning firearm,” the police department wrote.
Arlington PD said that because the item so closely resembled a “cellphone-style folding handgun” and included “realistic metal components,” officers treated it like a firearm until it could be confirmed otherwise.
“Weapons and realistic replica weapons are treated as equally serious safety concerns, especially when present in school premises and transportation,” the department wrote.
It’s unclear if the student will still face any disciplinary action.