A regular Wednesday at Dominion Middle School in Columbus' University District took a sharp turn when staff found a gun in a student's backpack, school officials say. No one was hurt, and staff say they quickly secured the weapon before calling in district safety personnel. The student took off and left campus, and Columbus City Schools and local law enforcement say they are now trying to track the student down.
District: Staff Secured Weapon, Student Still Missing
A Columbus City Schools spokesperson said staff discovered the firearm on school grounds, secured it, and then began the round of calls no school ever wants to make: to parents and police. As reported by The Columbus Dispatch, the district said it planned to provide more details later Wednesday.
Dominion Middle: Quick Facts
Dominion Middle School serves students in grades six through eight and is located in the University District. The school site lists its basic details for families. According to Columbus City Schools, the building sits at 100 E. Arcadia Ave., and the main office line is 614-365-6020.
Police, District Officials Launch Investigation
School leaders say they secured the weapon and alerted law enforcement, and officers are now searching for the student who left the scene, officials told The Columbus Dispatch. Columbus police were not immediately available to comment, the Dispatch reported.
A Tense Backdrop For Columbus School Safety
Incidents involving weapons on Columbus City Schools campuses have already put families on edge in recent years. An investigation by NBC4 found that police have been called out to secondary schools hundreds of times. As reported by NBC4 Investigates, officers responded to CCS secondary schools 858 times between Jan. 1, 2023, and April 18, 2025.
What Parents Are Being Told
District officials typically push out urgent alerts through school messaging systems and updates on the district website. Families with lingering questions are being directed to reach out to Dominion Middle School or the Columbus City Schools communications office. Parents who want immediate information can call Dominion at 614-365-6020 or check the district news feed for updates, Columbus City Schools notes.
