Cortland, N.Y. — Two students were suspended Friday morning after one of them brought a BB handgun into school as a Halloween costume prop, according to the Cortland school district.

The gun was found in the possession of a student at the Cortland Junior Senior High School building, according to an email sent by the school district to families.

The students argued that the gun was part of a Halloween costume, according to the email. The students demonstrated an “incredible lack of judgment,” the email said.

One of the students had brought the gun to school because his costume involved him being shot, said Cortland Deputy Police Chief Cheyenne Cute.

The second student informed him he could get in trouble for the weapon and offered to hide the gun in his bag for the day, Cute said.

A third student watched this exchange and alerted the school, not knowing if the gun was real or what was going on, Cute said. The two students were then tracked down and the gun was turned over without any resistance, he said.

The action was a serious violation of the district’s code of conduct, the district said.

The code of conduct states that it is prohibited to “possess or use firearms or other weapons including but not limited to air guns, pistols, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, explosives, box cutters, knives, gas canisters, in or on school property or at school functions…” Another section defines firearms to include BB guns.

The district said both students were removed from the premises and have been suspended. The next step will be a superintendent’s hearing.

Cute said the school day went on as normally scheduled with no disturbances.

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