Some students’ parents say the school took too long to notify them. Erica Byfield reports.
A 12-year-old boy was caught with a small kitchen knife at a Queens middle school Thursday, a day after a 13-year-old student at the same school was taken into custody when he was found with a loaded gun on the property, authorities say.
Police say the knife was found during an unannounced metal detector check at MS 202 in Ozone Park. A juvenile report was prepared and the student was released to a custodial parent.
On Wednesday, police responded to the Lafayette Street school after getting a call about a 13-year-old with a gun. A .22-caliber gun was recovered with one round in the chamber; no one was hurt, authorities said.
The union that represents school security workers told NBC 4 New York after Wednesday's discovery that it was pushing for extra security measures.
The city's Department of Education hasn't yet responded to the finding of the knife. Regarding the gun, a spokeswoman called the case "troubling."
"Students and staff are safe, and we will work in close partnership with the NYPD as they conduct an investigation,” the spokeswoman said.
