Eureka student had bullets, rifle on school grounds

Parents of Eureka High students in the Rockwood School District received a letter on Jan. 19 from Principal Jim Wipke stating that a student had come to the school with bullets in his jacket and a rifle in his car but that there was no apparent threat to any other students or school staff.

Wipke said in his letter that shortly after 9 a.m. that day, some students saw some bullets falling from the pocket of another student’s jacket, which was strapped to the student’s backpack. The students told a staff member what they saw, and school officials immediately reviewed tape from a security camera. The videotape confirmed the students’ report, and the student was brought to the school office.

Eureka Police were contacted, and a search of the student’s car uncovered an unloaded rifle.

“Upon questioning the student, we learned the student apparently does a lot of hunting and uses the rifle for sport,” Wipke said in the letter. “We have no indication there was any threat to student or staff safety. The bullets that fell from the student’s jacket cannot be used for the muzzle loading rifle that was in his car.”

Rockwood officials could not discuss the details of disciplinary action that would be taken regarding the incident, Wipke said.