Student charged in fake-rifle prank at Meadowbrook

A 16-year-old Meadowbrook High School student faces a felony charge after a prank involving a wooden rifle prop, Chesterfield County police said.

Shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday, the male student entered a classroom while class was in session, pointed the fake rifle at students and yelled something, said Chesterfield police Maj. Karl Leonard.

It is unclear what the boy was yelling, but other students initially believed he had a real gun, Leonard said.

The student left the room and ran through a hallway. A school resource officer apprehended him within a few minutes and without incident, Leonard said.

Authorities recovered the phony rifle, a prop for school theater. No one was injured. The student, who was not identified, was charged with brandishing a firearm on school property.

"We do believe it was simply a prank," Leonard said. "A prank gone bad."

Chesterfield school officials said the student could be suspended or expelled, but that no decision had been made as to any administrative punishment.

"The school system strictly enforces our uniform written regulations for student conduct even if the incident is deemed to be a prank," according to a statement from the school system.

Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or .