BY MATT HERSH

Two Salem High School students have been suspended for bringing .22 caliber bullets to school.

The suspensions came after students and school officials found bullets in various locations around the building on Wednesday, Jan. 24, and Friday, Jan. 26, according to Superintendent Michael Delahanty.

The names and ages of the two boys were not released.

Police were called to investigate after a student found a single bullet in a hallway, but a search of lockers and the surrounding area yielded nothing, Delahanty said.

Though rumors spread about the incident, school officials did not bring it up to students or faculty on Wednesday since it happened near the end of the day.

“We thought it would be best to let the rest of the school day go by,” Delahanty said. “Then nothing happened on Thursday which was a sigh of relief.”

However, as first period ended on Friday, a teacher found another bullet and the police were called again.

Principal William Hagan proposed visiting each classroom and getting the names of students who had left during first period for any reason.

“It took until the end of second period, but at no point was the school under lock-down,” Delahanty said.

Police gathered names and were able to narrow down the list to a handful of students. 

Eventually, the bullets were matched with those missing from the home of a resident where the two boys had visited.

“Apparently, the resident knew the boys were in the home and suspected they had stolen some things, but he didn’t know about the bullets,” Delahanty said.

No weapons were reported missing from the home.

With this information, police were able to notify school administrators and the two boys were suspended for 10 days.

Delahanty said the suspensions might be extended and are awaiting further review from administrators.

Following the incident, all students were brought to the school’s auditorium to discuss what had happened.

“I think they were doing it for intimidation,” he said.  “Nothing like this has happened here before.”

The incident’s timing is somewhat ironic because the school will be hosting Rachel’s Challenge next month, which is an assembly put on by friends and relatives of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in 1999.

The program teaches students how to treat each other with respect and kindness.

“I believe the message of the presenters will be a positive thing,” Delahanty said.