Last Monday, January 8, an expected visitor to Jackson-Reed High School attempted to bring a handgun into the building. The gun was confiscated by security and no one was harmed. 

Per protocol, when Officer Tiarra Darby saw the weapon in the metal detector, she stopped the machine and alerted her sargents. “I was very nervous because you don’t know how the person might react. Once they realize that you found what they brought in, you never know if they might come grab it and use it, or retaliate because you found it,” said Officer Darby. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was also contacted and reported to the building.

According to Brandon Hall, Director of Strategy and Logistics, “Individuals placed it through security, they didn’t try to sneak anything in.” Hall is unsure if the visitor had a license to carry.

DEL teacher Katherine Dorsey said that the handling of the situation gave her “confidence in the security.”

Staff and students were not informed of the situation during the school day. “The situation was handled appropriately by security personnel. There was no need for any emergency status to be initiated,” said Hall.

JR parents were alerted of the incident later that night in an email from Principle Sah Brown. 

Staff received an email from Principal Brown about the incident at 9 pm, a couple of hours after parents. Brown also held a meeting for staff the following morning to address any questions or concerns. 

However, students were never contacted directly. “They seem to have no idea,” said English Department Chair Joseph Welch. Senior Ben Martin explained that “I don’t really know the details.” But believes “[the visitor] should get in trouble. I don’t care if it was an accident.”