LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Eleven-year-old Sakir Everett, a seventh grader at Dwight Rich School of the Arts in Lansing, and whose name was released publicly by the family, did what most adults hope they’d have the courage to do. When he spotted a classmate with a gun, he didn’t freeze, panic, or reach for his phone. He took action – disarming the student, unloading the weapon, and possibly preventing a tragedy.
Most people would call that “heroic.” The Lansing School District called it “weapons possession” and handed the student a year-long expulsion.
Zero tolerance.
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Sakir’s background in hunting gave him the skills to dismantle the weapon safely, but the district still enforced its zero-tolerance policy, and handed down the expulsion.
Mom’s plea meets wall of silence.
Since the incident happened, the student’s mother, Savitra McClurkin, has been left juggling work while trying to keep her son’s education on track with a non-accredited online program, because other online schools are honoring her son’s expulsion. She went to the school board to demand answers, only to be met with silence.
To help the family stay afloat, a GoFundMe fundraiser was set up for the family that currently sits at a little over $18,500 as of this morning.
According to WILX, Sakir took the gun apart and threw away the bullets but didn’t tell an adult until later. His mom says he’s never been in trouble before and is an A and B student. On her Facebook page, mother Savitra McClurkin posted that she is thankful and humbled by the support she has received, even from strangers.
School’s official statement:
The Lansing School District sent WILX a statement saying, “In May 2025, a serious incident involving a firearm occurred at Dwight Rich Middle School. After a thorough investigation, and in accordance with Michigan law regarding dangerous weapons on school property, the Lansing School District determined that expulsion was necessary.”
The statement continued: “Expulsion is never a decision the district takes lightly. It is always considered a last resort. However, Michigan law provides very clear direction in cases involving dangerous weapons. The investigation – which included statements and video evidence—left no ambiguity and required this outcome. The Lansing School District has both a legal and moral responsibility to ensure the safety of all students and staff. 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 real lesson being taught.
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Instead of rewarding Sakir for his bravery, the district has effectively branded him a criminal, according to the GoFundMe site raising money for his cause. A boy who acted out of love for his classmates and may have prevented a tragedy is now stuck at home, cut off from his education.
Meanwhile, questions remain about the student who brought the gun to school. Police confirmed at the time of the spring incident that a 12-year-old was arrested, according to WILX, but it’s unclear due to unavailable information what discipline the student faced from the school itself. Additionally, according to the Lansing State Journal, metal detectors were added to the school after the incident.
Michigan News Source asked the principal whether any disciplinary action was taken against the student who brought the gun to school, but she had not responded as of press time.
Sept. 24 UPDATE: WILX reported that the Lansing School District announced it has completed its investigation into the May 22 incident citing multiple witness accounts and video evidence. The Board of Education reaffirmed its decision to expel the students involved, stressing that Michigan law requires mandatory expulsion when a student possesses a dangerous weapon in a school zone. Officials emphasized that no student would be punished for disarming or disabling a weapon to protect others, but they also warned that selective details shared in the media have created a “misleading narrative.” While student privacy laws limit what can be disclosed, the district said expulsion applies when a student possesses, brandishes, plays with, or shows off a weapon on school grounds. “Our priority is always the safety and well-being of students and staff,” the district stated.
