NEWPORT – Police cited a 15-year-old Newport High School student for disorderly conduct Wednesday afternoon after he caused a lockdown by carrying what turned out to be a replica of an assault rifle near the school.
Newport police said they received a report about 2:15 p.m. Monday of a boy near the high school carrying a rifle and responded with Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies. School administrators locked down schools in the area.
Police said they identified and contacted the student, determined the rifle was an Airsoft AR-style replica gun and “quickly determined there was no threat to school or public safety.” Airsoft guns are designed to closely resemble real firearms and shoot small plastic pellets using compressed air, gas, or springs.
The boy was cited for first-degree disorderly conduct and released to a parent. The lockdown was lifted and the middle and high schools resumed operations.
Police are still seeking information and ask that anyone contact Officer Jerimiah Mangum at 541-574-3348, the department’s tip line at 541-574-5455, text-a-tip at 541-270-1856 or [email protected].
