Paintball gun confiscated at Luverne Schools

A March 31 report of two vehicles driving around Luverne Middle-High School with guns resulted in the confiscation of a paintball gun.
“Unfortunately the students think that these types of events are all in fun,” said Sheriff Evan Verbrugge.
“At the time of the (afterschool) incident, students do not know what is being used to ‘shoot’ at someone else. From a distance, anything, whether it is a paintball gun, a BB gun or an actual gun, can look like an actual gun.”
The March 31 report in Luverne came on the heels of an actual school shooting in South Carolina that same day when a 12-year-old was killed by his classmate.
“Parents, teachers and other family members talk about being safe to their children and to report anything that could possibly hurt them,” Verbrugge said. “This is no different.”
Law enforcement located the car and found the individual had a paintball gun in the vehicle.
“Witnesses only see something that looks like a gun and report it,” Verbrugge added. “Until it is investigated, we have to treat it as an actual gun until we find out differently.”
Verbrugge said the paintball gun was not modified; it looked like a paintball gun. No one was injured.
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl released a statement to district families after the incident on March 31.
“There is no continued threat to students or staff. Law enforcement and the school district will handle this violation per policy,” Oftedahl said.
Luverne School District has a “zero tolerance” weapons policy, according to the district student handbooks.
“The school district would like to commend the students who reported this violation,” Oftedahl said.
“Again, there is no threat to students or staff at the Luverne Schools, and this situation has been handled.”