Canton police say student showed airsoft pistol while leaving school

CANTON, South Dakota (KTIV) - The Canton Police Department said a student told another student they had an airsoft pistol in their backpack and showed the item while it remained inside the bag as students were leaving school on buses on Tuesday Oct. 27.

The department issued a statement in response to questions and concerns circulating in the community.

What police said happened

Police said a student reportedly told another student they had what was described as an airsoft pistol in their backpack. The department said the item was never removed from the backpack, was not brandished and was not used to threaten any students.

The department said all reported accounts and investigations conducted confirmed those points.

Police and school response

The Canton Police Department and school administration were made aware of the incident early the next morning, Oct. 28, according to the statement. Police said officers and school officials followed up on the information immediately and took action.

After assessing the situation, the decision was made to remove the student from school and release the student into the custody of their parents, the department said.

Department statement to the community

Police said there is no indication of an ongoing threat to students, staff or the school. The department said it believes the situation has been addressed and that the school remains a safe environment for students and staff.

The department apologized for the delay in communicating the information. It said it values transparency, honesty and maintaining the trust of the community.

The department said the safety of students, school staff and the community remains a top priority. It thanked the community for its patience as it worked with school officials to address the situation.

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