Riley High School students safe after gun found in backpack

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Riley High School principal, Shawn Henderson, sent a letter to families Friday morning, informing them a handgun was found in the backpack of a student.

The letter reads, “at approximately 8:30 a.m., Riley High School administration received an anonymous tip that a student was in possession of a handgun. Our team immediately followed our safety protocols, and the situation was promptly investigated,”.

The letter goes on to explain they quickly found the handgun, “The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. Law enforcement was immediately notified, and the situation was handled swiftly to ensure the security of everyone on campus,”.

Communications Director for South Bend Community School Corporation, Andrew Goetz, explained how this situation examples why the tip line is vital for the school.

"We want to maintain a culture of vigilance, a culture where the safety and security and wellbeing of every single student in South Bend is our top priority, and having a tool like QuickTip is essential to that process," said Goetz.

The letter goes on to tell families to make sure students say something if they see something, “Please encourage your students to report any concerns to school staff or through our QuickTip portal on the district website at http://quicktip.sb.school.If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected] or call our office at 574-393-5100,”.