Two Ottawa, Kansas High School students are in custody after a gun was reported on campus.
In a statement, Ottawa police say they were told a student had a handgun on campus. The gun was later found in an unattended backpack.
A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old student were later arrested at an off-campus, school-sponsored field trip. Both are charged with defacing identifying marks on a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm on school property. They are both being held in the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center.
Police Chief Dennis Butler said in a statement, "I wish to thank the responding officers for their professionalism and rapid response. To the parents, I want to reiterate that the safety of your children was our highest priority today."
Butler said police are investigating why the gun was brought to school.
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