WELLSBURG, W.Va. — A heavy police response followed reports of a man carrying what appeared to be a rifle near two Brooke County schools Thursday afternoon, but authorities later confirmed the weapon was an air gun.
Sheriff Richard Beatty issued a statement on social media Friday explaining the incident was reported Thursday, Aug. 28 around 3:30 p.m. near Brooke Primary North and Hooverson Heights Primary School. A witness called 911 after seeing a male subject carrying what looked like a rifle in the area around dismissal time.
Responding officers learned the man had gotten into a vehicle headed in the direction of Brooke High School and Brooke Middle School. Deputies obtained a description of the suspect, the vehicle, and a partial license plate number.
After an initial search turned up no results, investigators reviewed surveillance video and were able to identify the license plate. The vehicle was located in Wellsburg around 7 p.m., where it was stopped and the occupants were identified.
Deputies determined the item in question was an air gun resembling a .22-caliber rifle.
“I want to stress that at no point was there any danger to the community, students, or staff of our schools,” Sheriff Beatty said in a statement. “I want to thank the community for their alert and swift action in reporting this matter, as well as the overwhelming police response.”
Beatty emphasized that, given the rise in school and community shootings nationwide, such reports are taken seriously.
“The safety and security of our communities and our schools is paramount,” Beatty said. “We will aggressively investigate these matters and report findings to the community as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.”
Beatty thanked the community for their vigilance:
“The safety and security of our communities and our schools is paramount. We will aggressively investigate these matters or report the findings to the community as soon as it is safe and pertinent to do so I would like to extend my sincere heartfelt thank you for the fast actions of the witness who called it in and everyone involved in getting to the bottom of this very scary incident,” Beatty said.
Agencies assisting included the Brooke County Sheriff’s Department, Wellsburg Police Department, Follansbee Police Department, West Virginia State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and Brooke County Schools Resource Officers.
