SAN BRUNO (BCN) -- School officials at a San Bruno middle school are trying to quell the fears of parents and students today in the wake of the discovery of a semi-automatic gun on campus.

Acting on a tip on Monday, Parkside Intermediate School officials found an unloaded semi-automatic .25 caliber gun in the locker of the unidentified 13-year-old boy, San Bruno police Capt. Russ Nicolopulos said.

Nicolopulos and Principal Sherry Balian said the boy brought the gun to school to "show it off" and had no intention of hurting anyone.

"Weapons do not belong in school," Nicolopulos said. "No matter what the intent is there is always a potential for danger."

Balian sent a letter Wednesday to parents alerting them to the situation and assuring them actions were being taken against the student.

"Every staff person at Parkside School supports a zero-tolerance approach to serious offenses," Balian said in the letter. "This approach makes the removal of dangerous students from the campus a top priority."

The 13-year-old was arrested Monday and taken to Hillcrest Juvenile Hall. Police say he may face felony charges.

Since the gun was allegedly taken from one of the boy's relatives, police are investigating whether it was properly secured.

According to Nicolopulos, this was the first gun found in a San Bruno school this year but not the first ever.

Balian said counselors would be on hand Friday to speak with students about the situation.

(Copyright 2003, Bay City News. All rights reserved.)