NEW HOPE, Minn. — Two students are facing discipline and perhaps criminal charges after firearms were found in their backpacks following a dispute at Cooper High School in New Hope Thursday morning.
Cooper Principal Shaunece Smith detailed the incident in a message to families and staff members, saying it began as a fight between three students. After staff members isolated those involved and brought them to the school office, New Hope police were called in to search the backpacks of two students.
Smith says in her message that officers located guns in two of the students' backpacks and immediately confiscated them. The principal shared that since the students had already been separated from the student body there was no reason to order a lockdown.
"Thankfully nobody was hurt. However, it doesn't diminish the anxiety this news brings to our students, their families and our staff," Smith wrote. "Please know our school takes every weapon-related incident seriously. We will follow the discipline guidelines outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook in regards to this incident."
Principal Smith apologized for any anxiety Thursday's incident may have caused both students and their parents, saying Cooper staff members work to create an environment in which all students feel welcome and safe. She added that Care and Support staff members are available for any students who want to talk about what happened.
New Hope police confirmed the incident, saying the two students were arrested and taken to Hennepin County Juvenile Center pending charges. Police added that the investigation into the fight and gun recovery remains active.
A district spokesperson also confirmed the fight and gun discovery, but declined the request for an interview.
There's been a number of gun-related incidents at Robbinsdale Area Schools in the past year, including a video that circulated on social media showing a student holding a gun in the school bathroom in Sandburg Middle. Golden Valley Police said school officials took five days to tell them about it.
In response to past criticism, the district board unanimously voted in favor of updating its school weapons policy in December, to put them in compliance with state law.
Sandy Daniels was in Cooper High's class of 1973. She says a lot has changed. Especially for her grandson, class of 2025.
"It's so hard for him to go to school," said Daniels. "His anxiety is with the guns. Knowing that they're out there is difficult."
Beth Powers has a 17-year-old enrolled in Cooper. She's thankful no one was hurt.
"Honestly, it makes me want to be more involved," said Powers. "It makes me want to get into school and be and be a face to these kids."
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