Sun staff report

LOWELL — With a series of violent incidents involving students taking place last week, school and city officials are making moves to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

On Thursday, a Sullivan Middle School student brought a handgun to school and showed it to several students in the hours before another, older boy fired the gun in Rotary Park at about 5:45 p.m., according to a letter sent home to parents.

The following day, several fights occurred during dismissal from Lowell High School, and the fights escalated on the streets downtown.

“What followed resulted in the arrest of several individuals, some of whom were Lowell High School students,” Jeannine Durkin, acting superintendent of Lowell Public Schools, wrote in a strongly worded letter that was emailed Saturday to the school community.

The arrests included 10 juveniles and one 18-year-old man, Lowell police said.

The troubles began on Thursday, when a gun was brought to school by an 11-year-old boy who displayed the weapon to several other students, Sullivan Middle School Principal Edward Foster wrote in another letter to parents, sent Friday.

“In conjunction with the Lowell Police, and consistent with our policies and guidelines, the administration of the impacted schools, with assistance of district support staff, have continued to take appropriate actions to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” Durkin wrote in her email Saturday.

In Friday’s letter to parents, Foster stated the Police Department will go to the school this week to speak to students “regarding the message, ‘If You See Something, Say Something.’ ”

“We are asking you as parents to help us reinforce the message that if your child sees anything of concern at our school or at home on social media about school, that they should immediately tell an adult at school or at home who will contact the school,” the letter states. “Our students need to know that we are here to help.”

The Sullivan Student Resource officers will also be attending the Parent Teacher Organization meeting scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, the letter states.

According to Capt. Paul Laferriere, one shot was “fired indiscriminately” at Rotary Park by a 14-year-old who got the gun from the 11-year-old. He said other juveniles were also present.

No injuries or damages were reported.

The gun was recovered and the matter was referred to juvenile court, according to police.

Lowell Police Superintendent Kelly Richardson met with Durkin on Sunday to discuss the matter.

He noted the 11-year-old would not be at school on Monday. Further details regarding any possible reprimands against the youth were not immediately clear.

Meanwhile, Durkin’s letter on Saturday regarding Friday’s melee stated “in an abundance of caution,” there will be an increased police presence in and around Lowell High School.

Support staff will also be available to assist students, parents and staff in need of support due to Friday’s fight, she stated. Head of School Marianne Busteed, members of her administrative team, and Durkin also have plans to address students Monday.

“What occurred yesterday can never happen again and does not represent the true character of the students of Lowell high School,” Durkin stated in her post. “Nor is it representative of our school community as a whole. To be clear, this behavior was unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The safety of our students, our staff and our community are and will always be my highest priority as well as the priority of (Busteed) and her staff.”