A Michigan mother is seeking justice after her 11-year-old son was expelled from school after he took a gun away from a classmate, an act she believes was heroic, not criminal, per WILX.
Savitra McClurkin said her son was expelled from Dwight Rich School of Arts in May after school officials learned he had handled a firearm brought to campus by another student.
“I’m frustrated. I’m at my wits’ end. I don’t know what to do,” McClurkin said.
McClurkin said her son noticed his classmate had a gun and used his knowledge from hunting to disarm and dissamble the weapon. The 11-year-old discarded the bullets to keep his peers safe.
“He didn’t want to implicate himself in it, nor did he want to tell on the person that actually brought the firearm,” McClurkin said. “Because he knows firearms aren’t supposed to be in school.”
Officials initially discovered a disassembled, unloaded weapon at the school, a 12-year-old boy, whose identity hasn’t been made public, was arrested.
McClurkin said her son believed he was doing the right thing to protect his classmates. However, after administrators learned of his involvement, the 11-year-old student was expelled for one year for possessing a weapon on school grounds.
“Instead of being recognized as a hero, [he] is now being treated like a criminal,” a GoFundMe page created to support the family reads. “He acted out of courage and compassion.”
In a statement, the Lansing School District defended its decision, citing state law.
Lansing’s Director of Public Safety Dale Person and Executive Director of School Culture Cordelia Black said: “In May 2025, a serious incident involving a firearm occurred at Dwight Rich Middle School. After a thorough investigation, and in accordance with Michigan law regarding dangerous weapons on school property, the Lansing School District determined that expulsion was necessary.”
“Expulsion is never a decision the district takes lightly. However, Michigan law provides very clear direction in cases involving dangerous weapons.”
“While this decision is difficult, our priority remains creating and maintaining a secure environment where learning can take place without fear,” Black added.
McClurkin recently addressed the school board during a public meeting, noting that her son has “never been in trouble before.” The 11-year-old is now enrolled in a non-accredited online program, as traditional online schools have honored the expulsion decision.
“They are setting my child up for failure,” McClurkin said. “They’re setting him up to being a statistic, and I’ve been doing everything in my will and my power to keep him from that.”
The GoFundMe page notes that McClurkin has had to reduce her work hours to homeschool her son.
“It’s devastating because he’s a bright kid, and all he wants to do is be a kid,” she said.
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