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Handgun Found In High School Locker

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By Jenny Li

Story Published: Apr 16, 2008 at 1:50 PM CDT

Story Updated: Apr 16, 2008 at 11:03 PM CDT

A Woodruff High School student will face a judge tomorrow for bringing a gun and bullets to school. Peoria Police say the gun was not loaded when they found it.

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17–year–old Victor Simmons was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon at school and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Police received a report of a possible gun in Woodruff High School and put the building on lockdown. The students I talked with were more upset about reporters covering the incident than about the gun itself.

Woodruff High School students casually left the building Wednesday afternoon at the usual time. Freshman Shakira King says she thought the hour lockdown was for practice. "I heard they do this once a year so I was just thinking it was that."

Junior Shyterria Jordan told us she was tired of reporters showing up for every gun incident at Woodruff. "What, is this like the third time y'all have been here? Y'all make it seem like Woodruff is a bad school when it's not."
Jordan feels the media coverage is giving Woodruff an undeserved bad reputation. "He wasn't shooting so ain't no point in y'all being here."

Junior Jasmond Lindsey said, "It's not a big deal. It's obvious he wasn't planning on doing anything. He didn't pull it on anyone or threaten anyone."

Police say they do not know what Victor Simmons' was planning to do with the gun. But bringing it to school was enough to put him in jail.

Victor Simmons is scheduled for bonding court Monday afternoon.

View Oldest Comments First

Friday, Apr 18 at 11:32 AM Woodruff Alumni wrote ...

If they take away funds for extra curricular activities or classes like art, and music, then things will just continue to downfall and things will become much worse. Look at the schools who focus mainly on raising test scores...they have no music, art, or after school programs and scores do not go up and safety is not increased!

Friday, Apr 18 at 11:16 AM Woodruff Alumni wrote ...

When I went we had metal detectors for a week. They did not change anything but make students more creative in finding ways to doing what they wanted. After they left students went right back to the norm, wanding every 20th person wasnt protecting anyone and it only made us question the schools protection of its students. What might help, would to have better security at the one door that is unlocked. I know students leave during lunch, and ID's would be a great addition to safety measures.

Friday, Apr 18 at 10:12 AM Woodruff Mom wrote ...

Thank god no one was hurt. I wish our school district would re-think using metal detectors. I know the problems surrounding using them but seriously, how many times do you have to have gun incidents before you believe they are a problem. You say it's safe at our schools, but for how long. My children have a short time left in District #150 and I am very thankful for that. I fear for their safety plain and simple.

Friday, Apr 18 at 8:58 AM old time friend.... wrote ...

I've known Victor since i was 8, and there is NO WAY that he did this to be "koo" someone had to of been talkin some big stuff...i heard kids were talkin bout jumpin him and that there were/did/are pose to fight on spring steet anyway!??!....so how boutn you "authority people" check the students and get they mind re-directed and involved in something. I love you Victor and i'm praying for you and the fams....

Friday, Apr 18 at 6:56 AM WHS Student wrote ...

Well I say that the media is taking the situation way farther than what it had to go. And I do agree with my fellow students that Vic was charged with "unlawful use of fire arm at school" but no one gets the point that it wasnt loaded! So its very crazy. And if he went to jail for it some other kids should have went to! Thats how I look at the situation! **FREE VIC**

Friday, Apr 18 at 6:33 AM ifloss7 wrote ...

1st of all did he go to anyone and tell them he was being bullied.. kids are taking matters into their own hands these days... thats when people get killed. it can happen anytime anywhere.. where did he get the gun was it locked up in a cabinet safely where no one could get to it?? he should'nt have had access to a gun....

Thursday, Apr 17 at 9:45 PM HS teacher wrote ...

Did anyone ever consider that other schools may not be in the news because their weapons AREN'T being found? Don't get so comfortable thinking it isn't happening in YOUR school--don't be so naive! Schools are a reflection of society and until parents take responsibility for raising their children, nothing will change. The student was 100% wrong for bringing the gun to school and should be held accountable. Don’t blame the school for bad decisions of a few students.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 12:31 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I moved my family out of Peoria and across the river 16 years ago because at that time we had watched the city going downhill with violence and race problems. I'm so happy we left and never looked back.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 9:42 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Students need to be responsible for their actions. They should know better by now. Its not a matter of the schools image its student safety that is important.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 9:25 AM 2008 WHS student wrote ...

another question i had was how can vic be charged with "unlawful use of a fire-arm at school" he didnt pull it on anyone, he didnt fire it, the thing wasnt even Loaded! Seriously, media makes everything seem worse than it really is, thats why WHS and peoria has such a bad reputation, thats why parents are afraid to let their kids out of the house because the media tells the public only about the bad and not about the acheivements that occur in peoria. It sickens me.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 9:20 AM WHS 2008 Student TAB wrote ...

I agree fully that the metal detectors should be put back into the school or atleast one at each entrance. I believe that the security at WHS is indeed doing its job but i also believe if security was doing its job thuroughly, then the firearm wouldnt have even made it into the school. I know Vic, and he seemed like he'd be last person to ever do something like this. He'd always try and help other students stay out of trouble, not cause trouble. More information needs to be released.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 9:13 AM TAB reply to city hater wrote ...

last time i checked, the schools in peoria were pretty good, aside from the gun incidents. peoria is not a bad city, its some of the people in the city that make it seem bad. when do you ever hear anything good about peoria? when reporters have nothing bad about it to report. and they find as much stuff bad about peoria as they can because thats all people have heard for the past, atleast, 10 years, is the bad side of peoria. how about showing the nice side of peoria? why focus on the bad?

Thursday, Apr 17 at 9:12 AM anhg wrote ...

everyone should be happy the school was searched the gun being found just saved lives the dude could have been waiting for the right time to pull the gun out and kill students everyone is very lucky they found the gun before something tragic happened the police need to continue the locker searches to keep these situations avoided and under control

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 10:21 PM 07 Alum (cont'd) wrote ...

Parents should quit complaining about how "bad" of a school Woodruff, or even how "bad" of a city Peoria is, and maybe show some pride. Sure, there are plenty of "bad" things about both WHS and the city, but there's so much more good. The GOOD is what needs to be focused on. Show some pride in your city, people. See something you don't like? Try to change it, try to improve it. After all, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 10:17 PM 07 Alum wrote ...

Bad grammar aside, I fully agree with the two young ladies who spoke. It's not fair that only the bad side of Woodruff gets shown on the news. Why don't you ever look at the good aspects of Woodruff, like the amazing faculty, the outstanding art department, the students who do GOOD for the school? Yes, gun incidents at the school are a problem, yes, something needs to be done about it, but what more does publicizing this issue do than create an unnecessary image for the school?

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 9:21 PM Anonymous wrote ...

My husband works at Woodruff and was there in 2005 when the shots were fired. I think it is horrible that they publish the bad things that happen at Woodruff but don't take steps to help solve the problems. We are sitting here while the District is giving raises to their administrative staff and the kids are bringing guns to school because we can't afford to put metal detectors in. What about the staff that actually have to deal one on one with the students? Where are their raise?

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 8:39 PM Woodruff Dad wrote ...

Do people understand the seriousness of this? Our kid's have wonder if they are going to live through the school day and we are worried about the image of the school. Don't tell me it's safe the same day a gun is found in there. We have accepted this as normal and that is sad.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 6:31 PM anonymouswarrioralumni wrote ...

how can you say they keep finding guns at that school? it has happened twice, which is too much, but one bad thing makes the whole school look bad. My child goes there and I feel safe with her going there, because the staff is like a family along with the student body. Maybe the natives are getting restless, because it is Spring. Maybe this kid has a reason like protecting himself. I don't agree with this, but i am sure that there is more to this story. Pray for our Children!!!!!!!

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 6:07 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I knew this guy Victor Simmons I had a class last semester with him and honestly it shocked me to know that he'd do something like this i honestly believe he was protecting himself from harm of other people and yeah the school searches students but reall in reality they dont search good enough instead of hand held metal detectors they should have the stands that way nobody would have to worry about getting hurt or killed its really really ad to me Victor was going to graduate this year too

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 5:39 PM LLF wrote ...

THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS ARE SLOWLY BEING TAKEN AWAY. THEY CANNOT PUNISH THEIR KIDS FOR FEAR THE KIDS WILL TURN THEM IN TO DCFS AND THEN ANYTIME THE SCHOOL HAS A PROBLEM THEY DO NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED.BEEN THERE ,DONE THAT. SOCIETY AND PARENTS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH SINCE I WAS IN SCHOOL. YES IT IS THE SAME OLD SAYING WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL. MAY BE TRUE BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEMS LIKE THEY HAVE TODAY. PARENTS NEED TO START GETTING INVOLVED AND TAKE CONTROL& TEACH THE KIDS.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 5:23 PM city hater wrote ...

everyone in peoria, including our mayor wonders why people are fleeing this city like rats jumping off the titanic,other than the poor schools, poor neighborhoods, poor snowplowing, high crime, its a great place. good luck, see you across the river

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 5:17 PM Concerned wrote ...

Just think.. A week ago it was in the news paper that they wanted to cut the campus police department for district 150 schools. Who DO YOU THINK FOUND THE GUN TODAY.. Parents think about it. My child goes there and I thank God Everyday for Officer Schubert,Little and Boon. They do a fantastic Job there.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 4:43 PM anonomous wrote ...

my significant other works there and says most of the students are wonderful, and then this happens and it tarnishes the image of the whole school. Those teachers there are wonderful and kudos to them for their devotion to their students.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 4:34 PM Anonymous wrote ...

how can that boy say his school is gaining an undeserved bad rep when the kids at that school are taking guns to school. its not like they are putting everything that happens in the media, but what can you expect when over and over there is a gun at that school?

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 4:02 PM jon s wrote ...

where did you get that photo? This didn't happen at night. Couldn't get a photographer out there? Nice stock bs.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 3:36 PM Answer to Anonymous wrote ...

The District has moved all there funds to building a new school. Metal detectors are on the budget for the new school once its built.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 3:26 PM concerned citizen wrote ...

It will take lots of tax dollars to put metal detectors in the schools. The question should be "When are the parents going to be made accountable for their children and how they have (or not) raised them.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 2:23 PM Anonymous wrote ...

What is it going to take to have metal detectors placed at each school? Does someone need to be shot and Killed? Can the district really afford a lawsuit?

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