Jackson-Reed has faced several security incidents since the beginning of the school year, including the confiscation of a handgun from a student’s backpack, an outside threat of violence, and a general threat to DCPS schools.
The unrelated security matters left some teachers and students worried. “I definitely think about what I would do in this [type of] situation,” one first-year teacher, who asked not to be named, told The Beacon. The teacher emphasized concern over some classroom doors lacking locks.
Senior Charlotte Gately said she was concerned about potential security breaches around the school, including the open pool entrance and the vulnerable opening in the gate on the field. “There are so many loopholes,” she said. Sophomore Hope Ternet added security breaches “could happen to any school at any time.”
After lunch on September 18, JR security officers detected a gun in a student’s black North Face bag as it passed through the x-ray machine at the entrance and then confiscated the firearm. According to a report by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the weapon was a ‘ghost gun,’ an unserialized and untraceable handgun.
The weapon contained 11 rounds of ammunition, and the student did not have a license to carry, the report said. No one was harmed.
Senior Danye Dunston Irving was in the security line behind the student. She said security officers took the student’s bag and instructed them to remain in front of the security office, but the student fled.
“They were standing there, and then they were walking, started picking up [the] pace, and once they got out the door they were running,” Dunston recalled.
Principal Sah Brown emailed JR families following the gun confiscation. “The safety of our students is always paramount,” he wrote.
Two weeks prior, on September 4, Brown placed JR on alert status due to an external threat of violence from an unknown party. After assessing the situation, MPD determined the threat was non-credible.
The day following the gun confiscation, in a separate incident, MPD released a statement saying that an anonymous threat to local schools prompted an increase in security throughout DC. “We are taking the threat seriously, but at this time we do not believe there is an immediate danger to students or staff,” the statement said.
MPD later announced the arrest of a 15-year-old male it said was behind the threats. This announcement included the suspect’s Instagram post, which displayed images of weapons and a list of DC schools, including Jackson-Reed. MPD said the post was a doctored image and that the teen did not have a gun.
In an email to DCPS employees, Ricky Brown, the school system’s deputy chief for security, said that DCPS is working with MPD to investigate the threats. “While law enforcement officials have not substantiated these threats, we are fully committed to responding swiftly and appropriately,” the email said.
Principal Brown said officials immediately contacted MPD after the handgun incident, who arrived promptly, confiscated the weapon, and launched an investigation.
MPD reported to The Beacon that no arrest has been made, and the case remains under investigation.
This is the second time in 2024 that JR security has confiscated a handgun. In February, a visitor who was set to perform at a Go-go event in the auditorium attempted to bring in a handgun. Security immediately seized the weapon.
According to DC law, it is illegal to carry a firearm within 1,000 feet of a public school. The DCPS Student Behavior Discipline Policy also states that possessing a firearm on school property is considered a “Tier 5 Behavior.” The disciplinary response for a Tier 5 Behavior is either long-term suspension or expulsion.
When asked who decides if the student will be suspended or expelled, Brown said, “We follow disciplinary actions in accordance with Chapter 25 of the DC Municipal Regulations.” This states that only the Chancellor may modify expulsions for bringing a gun onto school property. DC law also states that any student who brings a weapon into a DC public school will be expelled for at least one year.
Science teacher Will Gomaa said that although he “wished [the gun incident] would never happen,” he felt happy and confident in the security team’s performance and ability to confiscate weapons and keep the community safe.
The security officer who detected the gun was not allowed to comment on the incident or protocols enacted due to MPD’s pending investigation.
Brown notified faculty and staff of the incident at about 4:45 p.m.; shortly after that, an email to JR families arrived.
However, one senior said they only found out about the incident the following day. The student wished there had been direct communication from the administration to students.
Social studies teacher Michele Bollinger said the notification to faculty was later than she wished. “I’ve been here a long time so I know this kind of thing happens,” she said. “It’s not a good feeling to know something serious happened and not be informed more quickly.”
Brown held the first JR Monthly Community Conversation following the confiscation and threats, addressing school safety with parents. “I used it as an opportunity to review the recent security incidents, clarify misunderstandings, explain our security protocols, discuss the partnership we have with MPD, and answer any outstanding questions,” Brown said.
