Loaded Gun Found On School Bus Prompts Swift Response From Officials

From Staff Reports

Ripley County Sheriff’s Department has commended coaches for their response Monday to a student with a loaded handgun.

Deputies responded at 4:30 p.m., Monday to Naylor High School, after being called by coaches with the Twin Rivers School District.

A sixth-grade student was detained by deputies after a loaded handgun was discovered in a duffel bag on a Twin Rivers bus, according to authorities.

“During an interview, the suspect said he had no intention of harming anyone and had been unaware the weapon was in the bag before boarding the bus,” Ripley County sheriff’s deputies reported.

Twin Rivers coaches called law enforcement after receiving a report from another student that the gun was on board.

“The coaching staff immediately gained possession of the duffel bag and moved the student to the front of the bus,” Twin Rivers Superintendent Rob Brown said.

Deputies confiscated the handgun, which was loaded but did not have a round chambered, Brown said. The student was taken to the Stoddard County Juvenile Detention Center.

Ripley County sheriff’s deputies said in a report the student could face charges of unlawful use of a weapon.

Sheriff Rad Talburt said in a statement he would like to commend Twin Rivers School staff members for their quick action in de-escalating a dangerous situation and protecting children entrusted to their care.

Brown said while this remains an ongoing and active investigation, it appears to be an isolated incident with no other students involved.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident.

Brown emphasized the district’s zero-tolerance policy for weapons on school property and said student safety is a top priority.

Brown declined to provide further details about law enforcement’s intervention or the actions of school staff, citing active shooter training protocols and a desire to protect staff from unwanted attention.

Brown said the district is considering policy revisions in response to the incident, which will be discussed at the next school board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

He assured the community that the incident appeared to be isolated and that the district was taking all necessary steps to prevent future occurrences.

“I understand that incidents such as this can be very unsettling and I want to assure you that we are taking all necessary steps to address this situation and prevent similar incidents in the future,” Brown said. “I appreciate your cooperation and support as we work together to ensure a safe environment for all.”

Community members with further questions are encouraged to contact the Twin Rivers Central Office at 573-328-4321.

The Naylor R-II board recently approved a cost-share proposal by Ripley County Sheriff Rad Talburt, to install a school resource officer on campus.

The sheriff’s department has, since January when Sheriff Talburt took office, been assigning deputies to provide a law enforcement presence on campus during student drop-off and pick-up times, as well as increasing patrol at Naylor.

A similar cost-share proposal for a full-time Ripley County Deputy Marshal at Naylor is to be decided by the Naylor City Council during its March 5 meeting.