Schools across Rathdrum were placed under lockdown Wednesday morning after an elementary school student displayed what appeared to be a realistic-looking air pistol to a classmate before the start of classes, according to the Rathdrum Police Department.
The incident began when a female student reported to her parent that a male classmate had shown her what looked like a handgun. The parent immediately contacted authorities, prompting a police response and the implementation of lockdown and safety hold procedures at area schools while officers worked to locate the student in question.
Police Response and Student Located
Officers from the Rathdrum Police Department said they had previous contact with the boy involved in the incident. Law enforcement initiated safety protocols across Rathdrum-area schools operated by Lakeland Joint School District as a precautionary measure while searching for the student.
Police later located the boy and recovered the weapon, which they determined to be an air pistol with an extremely realistic appearance that could easily be mistaken for an actual firearm. Once the situation was assessed and the weapon secured, officers notified the Lakeland Joint School District, and all lockdowns and safety holds were released.
No Criminal Violation Found
Rathdrum Police detectives conducted a full investigation into the incident. According to the department, while the conduct was concerning to school officials and parents, the investigation concluded that no Idaho law had been violated.
The department emphasized that officers and detectives thoroughly reviewed the circumstances surrounding the incident before determining that criminal charges were not warranted under current state statute.
Impact on Kootenai County Schools
The brief lockdown affected multiple schools in the Rathdrum area as part of standard safety protocols when a potential weapon is reported on or near school grounds. Lakeland Joint School District coordinates with local law enforcement on security procedures designed to protect students and staff during investigations of this nature.
Air pistols and replica firearms have become increasingly realistic in appearance in recent years, creating challenges for schools and law enforcement when students bring them onto campus. While not classified as actual firearms under Idaho law, realistic-looking air guns can cause alarm and trigger emergency responses when displayed in school settings.
What Comes Next
The Rathdrum Police Department has completed its investigation and turned over its findings to school administrators. Any disciplinary action related to school policy would be handled by Lakeland Joint School District through its student conduct procedures.
Parents with questions about school safety protocols or Wednesday’s incident can contact the Lakeland Joint School District administration or the Rathdrum Police Department for additional information.