Former student cited for displaying BB gun at CVU football game

Police have cited a former student for allegedly displaying a BB gun during a football game Saturday afternoon at the Champlain Valley Union High School.

Hinesburg Police Chief Anthony Cambridge said the 17-year-old male from Hinesburg was cited for possession of a dangerous weapon on school property and giving false information to police. Police released the juvenile to his family while the investigation continues, Cambridge said. 

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the suspect may also be charged with criminal threatening, the chief said.

The juvenile, a former CVU student, “threateningly displayed” a BB gun during a boys varsity football game at the Hinesburg school, according to a districtwide email that Champlain Valley School District superintendent Rene Sanchez sent late Saturday afternoon.

Students who saw the spectator brandish the gun immediately alerted an administrator, who then notified the Hinesburg Police Department, according to the email.

“He showed a number of people the gun (which was) in his waistband and then he did point it, at least at one person, that I know of,” Cambridge told VTDigger on Monday.

The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m., according to Cambridge, who said officers quickly arrived on the scene, met with the principal and located the juvenile with very little disruption.

Police asked the juvenile if he had the BB gun on him, and he said he didn’t have one, according to Cambridge. They later found it in a backpack that was associated with him or his girlfriend, the police chief said.

“Then he was cited, issued a trespass order to not come back to the school, taken back to the police department and then released to a family member,” Cambridge said.

In the districtwide email, Sanchez called it a “traumatic event” and said mental health professionals would be available at the school this week to support students.

“At this time, there is nothing new or additional to report,” he said in the email.

(This story originally appeared in VTDigger.)