Battle Creek Police Report More Juveniles Found With Guns

Battle Creek police say several juveniles were found with firearms during a series of incidents over the weekend, adding to concerns after a gun discharged inside a local elementary school last week.

The first weekend arrest came Friday after a school resource officer received information about a possible shooting connected to a homecoming-related gathering.

Battle Creek Police Department officers located the gathering and said a 16-year-old was found with a handgun that had been reported stolen.

The teen was taken to the juvenile home on multiple charges, including possession of a stolen firearm.

On Saturday, police responded to reports of gunfire near Wagner Drive and Emmett Street.

A caller reported that two juveniles were firing a handgun in the woods near the Linear Trail.

Officers located a 15-year-old and a 12-year-old and recovered a handgun from the older juvenile, according to police.

The 15-year-old was taken to the juvenile home on allegations that included carrying a concealed weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm.

An adult was also charged with unsafe firearm storage in connection with that incident.

Later Saturday, police said officers at a large street gathering found a 17-year-old with another stolen firearm.

That teenager was also lodged at the juvenile home on charges including carrying a concealed weapon and possession of stolen property.

The weekend cases followed a separate incident September 22 at Ann J. Kellogg Elementary School.

Police said a third-grade student brought a handgun to school and the weapon discharged inside the child's backpack in a hallway.

No students or staff members were injured.

At the time of the school incident, police said four juveniles had been arrested in Battle Creek for possessing firearms during the previous 30 days.

The additional weekend arrests put renewed attention on how children and teenagers are gaining access to firearms and how guns are stored by adults.

Michigan's safe-storage information explains requirements for securely storing firearms when minors are likely to be present, and the circumstances of each case determine whether charges are appropriate.

Q: How many weekend incidents did police describe?

Police described three separate weekend encounters in which juveniles were found with firearms.

Q: Was anyone hurt when the gun discharged at Ann J. Kellogg Elementary?

No injuries were reported when the handgun discharged inside the third grader's backpack.

Q: Did an adult face a charge in one of the weekend cases?

Yes, police said an adult was charged with unsafe firearm storage after the incident near Wagner Drive and Emmett Street.