Student detained at Westminster middle school after bringing knife to campus

A 12-year-old student at Warner Middle School in Westminster was detained by staff members after he brought a kitchen-type knife onto campus Monday, police said.

Officers were sent to the middle school shortly before 11 a.m., after school staff found the student with the knife, the Westminster Police Department said in a news release. No injuries were reported. Police are unaware of any similar situations or threats made against students at Warner Middle School.

“We are grateful school staff intervened and were able to locate the knife before anything serious occurred at the hands of the student. The safety and welfare of our students and teachers is our utmost priority,” Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi said in a statement.

It is unclear how the staff discovered the knife or if the student made any threats prior to bringing the knife to school. The 12-year-old student was released to his parents and will face disciplinary action from the school, according to police. The case will also be forwarded to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, which may file criminal charges.