SAD 1 continues probe into shotgun incident

PRESQUE ISLE – SAD 1 officials were continuing their investigation Monday into an Oct. 23 incident in which a student at the school fired a shotgun.

“We’re still in the middle of the investigation,” Superintendent Gehrig Johnson said Monday. “We’re sorting this out.”

Johnson said he received a report from high school Principal Eric Waddell last Friday that included interviews related to the incident conducted by the principal.

Last Tuesday morning during the first period of the school day, a 17-year-old student brought his pickup truck into the school’s automotive mechanics program garage to work on it.

The student had a shotgun in the truck, but it was not loaded.

Another student, Lee Theriault, 18, of Presque Isle subsequently got into the truck, where he allegedly modified a shotgun shell so it would make noise but would not fire any pellets or other materials in the shell.

He then allegedly aimed the weapon out a window of the truck at another student and fired, making a bang, according to police.

No one was injured.

Presque Isle police learned of the incident the next day. After conducting interviews, Theriault was charged by police with reckless conduct with a firearm.

Johnson said Monday both students have been suspended pending the outcome of the district’s investigation.

District policy prohibits weapons on school grounds. Violation of that policy calls for automatic expulsion.

“We will be taking some action,” Johnson said Monday, but he could not be specific since the investigation was still under way and could take several more days.

Gary Willett, instructor for the automotive program, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the district’s investigation.

Johnson said that action is required by district policy because Willett was the teacher in charge in the automotive mechanics area when the incident occurred.