SALISBURY — The mother of the 13-year-old who brought a gun to Triton Regional Middle School last week is being charged with improper storage of her licensed firearm, a misdemeanor that could carry fines or up to 21/2 years in jail.
According to Salisbury police Chief David L'Esperance, after a weeklong investigation, Salisbury school resource officer Michael Alder filed charges at Newburyport District Court yesterday against Kathaleen Webber, 49, of 25 True Road, Salisbury, on a violation of the Massachusetts weapons law. Because of this incident, Salisbury police have also suspended her license for her class A weapon, a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol, which she has had since 1993.
Triton has said the boy has not been allowed to return to school because of the seriousness of the incident.
L'Esperance said Salisbury police were contacted by Newbury police immediately after the Feb. 2 incident in which the middle school student was taken into custody and charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds after he was found to have brought a gun to school. Alder immediately began investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and learned that although the gun was licensed, it had not been secured properly, allowing a child access to the gun.
L'Esperance said Massachusetts gun laws require all guns be licensed and properly secured in a way that prevents others — and especially children — from being able to get access.
"Weapons like this are supposed to be locked up, in a safe or locked cabinet," L'Esperance said.
The court will issue a summons for Webber to appear before a Clerk Magistrate's hearing to determine if there is probable cause that a crime was committed. Although the criminal aspect of the weapons violation will be determined by the courts, L'Esperance said in cases like this, police chiefs have the authority to suspend gun licenses of those they feel act inappropriately, and in this case, he has.
The incident at Triton should be a wake-up call to all those with guns in the home to make sure all weapons are properly locked away from those who might used them improperly. L'Esperance urged any Salisbury gun owner without trigger locks to contact the Police Department to get one.
L'Esperance said the case at Triton is especially disturbing for two reasons. First, a child got hold of a deadly weapon and took it to school. Second, the student did so because of being bullied by others, a growing and serious problem that has led to numerous and fatal tragedies in this nation's schools over past years.
After the incident, Triton Superintendant Sandra Halloran said she had learned the student brought the gun to school because he was being teased on the school bus.
"The district attorney's office has taken the lead on bullying issues in schools and provides training for all school resource officers, like our officer, Mike Alder, who's been through that training," L'Esperance said. "Bullying is a serious issue, and right now legislation is being filed to put some teeth into the state's ability to contend with those who bully others. Other states have done this — like New Hampshire — and it's helped somewhat."
The Triton bullying-related gun case was the first of two incidents involving Salisbury youths who police say committed crimes in response to being bullied on school buses. According to police, a 15-year-old boy set fires Tuesday in his Beach Road mobile home park that resulted in his own home being badly damaged and minor damage to a neighbor's home. The boy said he was so angry after being harassed for years on the bus that takes him to his school in Methuen, he came home and lit the fires.
L'Esperance said the boy is being charged with two counts of arson, but he said those who know the boy's history are hoping he can get the help he needs.
Currently, police can only prosecute bullying under the state's criminal harassment laws, L'Esperance said.
"It's my understanding you need three incidents (of bullying) reported to police to rise to the level of criminal harassment," L'Esperance said. "Getting kids to report bullying is like trying to get battered women to call police and report domestic violence. Kids are hesitant to come forward and admit they're being bullied."
