Lansing, Michigan – September 26, 2025 – In a twist that has sparked outrage and debate over school zero-tolerance policies, an 11-year-old boy was expelled from his Lansing middle school after heroically disarming and disassembling a loaded handgun brought to class by a fellow student.
The incident unfolded last week at Dwight Rich School of the Arts, where Savitra McClurkin’s son spotted the weapon in his 12-year-old classmate’s backpack during a routine school day. Drawing on knowledge gained from family hunting trips, the quick-thinking boy intervened, removing the magazine and separating the slide from the frame to render it inoperable – all without alerting teachers or causing panic. “He did what he thought was right to protect his friends,” McClurkin told local reporters, her voice thick with frustration. “Instead of being praised, he’s being punished like a criminal.”
The school district, citing its strict weapons policy, handed down a one-year expulsion to McClurkin’s son, while the gun-toting 12-year-old received a mere 180-day suspension and transfer to an alternative program. Officials emphasized that any handling of firearms on campus violates rules designed to ensure safety, regardless of intent. “Our priority is the well-being of all students,” a district spokesperson stated, declining further comment on the specifics.
McClurkin, a single mother, has launched an appeal, vowing to fight the decision through legal channels if needed. Supporters have rallied online, with hashtags like #ReinstateTheHero trending on social media and a Change.org petition garnering over 10,000 signatures in days. Child advocates argue the case exposes flaws in rigid policies that fail to distinguish between threats and saviors, especially in under-resourced urban schools where gun violence looms large.
As the appeal process unfolds, the story has ignited national conversations about heroism, discipline, and the unintended consequences of “zero tolerance.” For now, McClurkin’s son attends virtual classes from home, his act of bravery overshadowed by bureaucracy. “He’s just a kid who wanted to keep everyone safe,” she said. “We need schools that reward that, not expel it.”
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Michigan mom says 11-year-old son was expelled after dismantling classmate’s loaded gun at school
11-Year-Old Expelled After Taking Gun Away from Classmate
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