Mom of boy allegedly threatened by 13-year-old who brought loaded gun to school speaks out

ECONOMY, Pa. — A 13-year-old boy is accused of bringing a loaded gun to school two days in a row.

Parents we spoke with told Channel 11 they’re frustrated that the gun got through security at Ambridge Area Middle School.

>> Boy, 13, charged after bringing gun to Ambridge Area Middle School, threatening student, DA says

Sara Cogis is overwhelmed with emotion after her 11-year-old son was threatened by a classmate with a loaded gun at school. She said she is still processing the terrifying incident.

“We could be mourning a tragedy right now, of multiple children and adults. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” Cogis said.

The incident occurred Wednesday when Cogis’s son entered the school bathroom and was confronted by a 13-year-old student who had a loaded gun. According to Cogis, the teen had already been threatening another student when he aimed the gun at her son.

“The gun was pulled on him when he walked into the bathroom,” Cogis said. “The kid was already threatening someone else, and then he put it right here on his side and told him he would ‘f***ing kill him.’”

Terrified, Cogis’s son ran to the principal’s office to report the threat. He soon learned this was the second day in a row the same student had brought the gun to school.

Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible confirmed that metal detectors at the school went off both days.

“Both days, the metal detector went off. I understand the student had a water gun, and I’m not sure if that was used as a distraction,” Bible said.

The gun was legally owned by the student’s parents and had been securely stored, according to Bible. However, Cogis is still questioning how the teen was able to bring the firearm onto school grounds.

“I just don’t understand how this happened, and I want to know what’s going to change moving forward to make parents feel safe,” she said.

Cogis expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the school. “No one has reached out to us, asking how our son is doing,” she said. “I’ve called and left multiple voicemails.”

While the district did not respond to Channel 11′s specific questions, they did send an email to parents announcing an increased police presence at the school on Friday and new safety measures, including clear backpacks for all students. Elementary students will also be required to use clear lunch bags starting December 3rd.

Despite these changes, Cogis said her children will not return to Ambridge schools.

“I don’t feel safe sending my son back to school. I don’t even want my daughter going to school, and she’s in elementary,” she said.

The 13-year-old student is facing criminal charges and has been sent to a juvenile detention center. The school district also announced that mental health support will be available for students at Ambridge Middle School on Friday.

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