Three boys were taken into custody following a track meet at Rock Bridge High School on Tuesday night.
One of the boys was accused of threatening to shoot a Columbia Public Schools staff member, as reported by Columbia Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Fitzgerald. The other two were arrested for fighting.
Police were called shortly after 8 p.m. due to multiple fights, according to Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald clarified that no one witnessed a gun, and officers did not locate a weapon at the scene. A CPS middle school calendar indicates an eighth-grade track meet was held at the high school.
CPD Lt. Derek Moore told ABC 17 News that the three individuals involved in the fight were detained, and no injuries or shots were reported.
Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark confirmed via email that the threat to staff was verbal, with no gun involved.
“Yesterday, we experienced an unfortunate incident at our meet. There were words exchanged between several students, and a fight between a small group of students required adult intervention. We understand that this incident, which occurred toward the end of our meet, may have been concerning,” Baumstark’s email to families read.
The email continued, stating that the matter was swiftly resolved and the students involved would “receive appropriate consequences from both the school and MSHSAA for their actions.”
The statement also mentioned that officers responded to a separate disturbance that took place off-campus.
