Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 18, 1995                   TAG: 9504180130
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FLEMING STUDENT FACES GUN CHARGE

The 17-year-old student was arrested Friday and charged with the felony. He reportedly showed the gun to a bus driver. Principal Alyce Szathmary said the driver reported the incident, but was not sure whether the gun was real.

The school's police resource officer investigated the complaint and found that the student had a loaded gun.

Szathmary said no students were endangered and that the student apparently did not intend to harm anyone.

Szathmary has suspended the student for 10 days and recommended expulsion, in keeping with Roanoke's disciplinary policy.

Possession of a gun on school grounds carries an automatic recommendation for expulsion.

Only the School Board can expel students. The board routinely has approved recommendations for expulsions for two years. In that time, more than a dozen students have been expelled for possession of weapons or drugs.

Effective July 1, state law will require any student who brings a gun to school to receive no less than a yearlong expulsion.