Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

MONTEITH

SENATOR NOEL Monteith, State Minister in the Ministry of Education and Youth, has expressed shock at yesterday's shooting incident at Vere Technical High School in Hayes, Clarendon.

The Junior Education Minister also said a ministry investigation into the incident should determine a policy governing what weapons security guards are allowed to take on to school grounds.

Senator Monteith told The Gleaner yesterday that he was not aware of any weapons policy for security guards in schools.

"We are shocked by this incident and, from a ministry stand point, a thorough investigation will have to be launched into the matter, and I am almost certain that out of it a policy will be drafted that will speak to what weapons they (security guards) are allowed to carry in schools," Senator Monteith said.

A hard jerk

The Hayes police have confirmed that the weapon which caused the injuries at the school was a Remington shotgun from which one bullet was discharged. A policeman at the station said that, although a single shot was discharged, many pellets fly through the air in one burst. He said such a gun can go off if it gets "a hard jerk."

But like other guns, the Remington has a safety latch which prevents it from discharging bullets accidentally.

It is still unclear what happened that led to the shot being discharged, but police say a shot must be released into the chamber for it to go off.

Senator Monteith said he was unclear about the way such guns worked but was of the view it had no place in a school.

"I don't know what a pump rifle is. But if it is as you have described to me, I don't believe such a weapon is suitable in schools," he said.

Senator Monteith added that school security guards should carry guns that could be easily concealed such as 9mms or revolvers.