A mother says her son was unfairly punished after being expelled from school for taking a gun away from another student.
According to PEOPLE, Savitra McClurkin said her son, Sakir Everett, was expelled from Dwight Rich School of the Arts in May after a classmate brought a firearm to school property. McClurkin explained to WILX that her son, using his hunting knowledge, disarmed and disassembled the weapon before discarding the bullets. Police later arrested a 12-year-old boy in connection with the incident, but did not provide further details.
McClurkin said her son acted responsibly but still faced punishment. “He didn’t want to implicate himself in it, nor did he want to tell on the person that actually brought the firearm,” she explained. Despite his actions to secure the weapon, school administrators expelled him for a full year.
The family launched a GoFundMe to cover expenses related to the expulsion, writing: “He has been expelled and barred from all school platforms, despite being an A/B student, a respectful young man, and an athlete who has been playing sports since he was 6 years old.”
The School’s Response
The Lansing School District defended its decision in a statement, saying expulsion was not made lightly but was necessary to maintain school safety. “While this decision is difficult, our priority remains creating and maintaining a secure environment where learning can take place without fear. Upholding these standards is essential to protecting our school community, ” the statement read.
McClurkin has launched a GoFundMe page to help support her son’s homeschooling expenses, as well as other related costs.