News 8 investigation reveals hundreds of knives and dozens of handguns seized from Connecticut schools

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (WTNH) — “Horrific” is simply not a big enough word to describe what happened in Connecticut.

On December 14, 2012, the state and the country watched in horror as the tragic details of Sandy Hook Elementary School swept across the world like a tidal wave. That day, 20 students and six adults were shot and killed.

It was only in April that a painful memory came back to the surface: the 25th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting.

Amery Bernhardt directs the Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation. His office commissioned a study, which News 8 has obtained, that surveyed school principals across Connecticut and focused on two key questions: Why do students bring guns to school? And how can this be reduced?

Bernhardt said the children have told school officials directly that they want more support with their mental health.

The study found that the largest percentage of children said they brought a gun unintentionally. Next was safety or protection, followed by showing the gun to other children or getting attention. Finally, a desire to threaten or hurt others was lower on the list.

School security measures vary by district. Some have metal detectors, wand checks, bulletproof glass and cameras. We analyzed the latest gun counts from the Connecticut Department of Education. For the 2022-2023 school year, which includes the most recent data available, 454 knives (2 ½ inches or longer) were seized. Fifty-five handguns were found, up 22% from the previous year. Additionally, 95 pellet guns, 54 stun guns and 118 toy guns were found.

Do we have a story about a toy gun that will make you shake your head? If you think all the problems lie with older children, you’re wrong. You’re about to meet a mother whose 7-year-old son had a gun pointed at his face on the school bus.

It’s a bus ride that keeps on Pooja Flynn’s mind. Her 7-year-old son, Grayson, was on his way to Middletown Elementary School when another child put a gun in his face and pulled the trigger. It was a toy gun, but it looked so real, Grayson’s mother told News 8 investigative reporter Jeff Derderian. Remember, we’re talking about second graders here.

“What was going through your mind when you heard that from the principal?” Flynn said. “I wanted to get there as soon as possible… my body was numb… toy or not.”

Joe Dooley has decades of experience in law enforcement and now works with Mutualink, an automated emergency response system used in schools nationwide.

“Within seconds, a colorized floor plan with cameras connected to the school’s radio system appears,” Dooley said. “Sometimes it only takes us seconds to make an informed decision that actually mitigates the threat and keeps people safe.”

For Flynn, her son’s safety at school is her top priority. The world is a very different place today, even for a seven-year-old.

“Did you ever think you would have to talk to your seven-year-old about guns?”

“Never,” Flynn replied. “I never thought I would have to do this.”