American Fork Jr. High student detained after handgun found in backpack

AMERICAN FORK, Utah — Students, teachers, staff, and police are safe after police responded to American Fork Junior High on Wednesday. They were called after a student saw a handgun in another student’s backpack, and notified a teacher.

Police said it was American Fork Junior High School’s resource officer that detained and secured the student in question.

Classes operated normally despite a “hold” status that kept students in their classrooms. The hold was released when police determined that there were not threats to other students or school personnel.

“Although the department’s investigation is still ongoing, it was determined the juvenile male was the one who brought the handgun to school and it appears that he acted alone,” said a release from American Fork Police.

An investigation into how the student got the handgun, and why the student brought the handgun to American Fork Junior High, is ongoing.

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