Despite being same caliber, officials don’t feel incidents are related
Law enforcement officials say they do not believe a pair of incidents, involving bullets at Marysville schools, are related.
Friday afternoon, a custodian at Edgewood Elementary found a .22 caliber bullet on the ground under the rug in a third-grade classroom. A day earlier, a Marysville High School student found a .22-caliber bullet laying on the ground in the hall.
“It appears to be a coincidence that these two incidents occurred,” said Marysville Deputy Chief of Police Tony Brooks. “It appears to be happenstance.”
He added, “there is nothing that ties them together.”
Brooks said both bullets were .22 caliber shells.
“That’s where the similarities end,” the deputy chief said, noting the two bullets had different manufacturers.
Marysville Assistant Superintendent Jonathan Langhals echoed Brooks’ statements, saying that the school district did not believe the incidents are connected or threatening in nature.
He said school officials continue to work with the police department in connection with the situation.
Brooks explained that .22 caliber bullets are “a pretty common round.”
Brooks said the bullet found Friday was under a rug that gets, “cleaned and moved maybe once or twice a year.
“We are not even sure how long it has been there,” Brooks said.
Edgewood Principal Thomas Holdren told parents, “as a part of our safety plan, we are working with the Marysville Police Department.”
Brooks said the rug is in a part of the building that has no camera surveillance. He said investigators have interviewed everyone involved.
“We are kind of at a standstill,” Brooks said.
School officials said law enforcement was contacted immediately after the shells were found.
Because the bullet at Edgewood was found after school hours and on the weekend, district officials notified police and parents, but the incident did not disrupt classes.
The district maintained its class schedule after the incident Thursday, as well. That day, a student saw the shell, picked it up and quickly notified a teacher, who contacted district administrators. Officials determined the bullet did not pose a “specific threat to student and staff safety,” so a school lock down was not necessary.
District officials have expressed appreciation to the student and staff member who made the administrative team aware of the situations.
Holdren said the district will use the incidents as an opportunity to talk with students.
“I will be discussing the importance of ‘see something, say something’ with our students,” Holdren wrote in a letter to parents.
Cochran wrote that, “when students come forward and share information, we can work together to maintain a high level of safety for all students.”
Both principals stressed that teachers, staff, administrators and parents, “all have a personal responsibility when it comes to student safety.”
Holdren and Cochran encouraged parents with questions to contact their them.
“I appreciate your partnership as we strive to provide a safe learning environment for all students,” Holdren said.