photo by: Mike Yoder

Free State High School

A Free State High School student who left a hunting gun in his car in the school parking lot last fall will not face criminal charges.

The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office chose not to file a complaint.

“After careful review of the reports our office has declined to file criminal charges in this case because there was no intent to commit a crime,” Dorothy Kliem, trial assistant for the DA’s office, said in an email. “The investigation revealed that the weapon was left forgotten in the vehicle after a hunting trip.”

The gun was discovered, unloaded, under the seat of the student’s vehicle Sept. 20, 2018.

District officials said the weapon never left the vehicle and that they did not think the student intended to harm anyone.

Lawrence police investigated and forwarded the case to the DA’s office. Police didn’t share specifics about the type of gun, other than that it was used for hunting.

The Journal-World inquired about the hunting rifle incident this week, after a student at Lawrence High School was arrested Wednesday when a handgun was allegedly discovered in his backpack.

Under district policy, no weapons are allowed on school campuses.