Michigan Seventh Grader Expelled After Disarming Armed Classmate

A seventh-grade student in Michigan is being hailed by his family and community as a hero after he disarmed a classmate carrying a gun — but instead of being rewarded, he was expelled for failing to notify a teacher immediately.

Sakir Everett, a student at Dwight Rich School of the Arts in Lansing, acted instinctively when he saw another student with a firearm earlier this year. According to a GoFundMe campaign launched in support of the family, Sakir “didn’t run — he stepped in to protect his classmates, potentially preventing an unimaginable tragedy.”

Despite his courageous act, Sakir was expelled from the school for the remainder of the academic year. The Lansing School District reportedly accused him of “possession of a weapon,” citing his failure to report the incident to a teacher or administrator right away.

“They kicked him out of school for the whole year,” his mother, Savitra McClurkin, told local news outlet WILX. The incident happened in May, but details of the disciplinary action only recently came to light.

McClurkin explained that her son was afraid to report the situation immediately, worried that he might get in trouble himself or be seen as “telling” on the other student.

“He didn’t want to implicate himself or the student who brought the firearm,” she said. “But he knew it didn’t belong in school.”

Sakir, who has a background in hunting, used his knowledge to safely disarm the gun. A strong student with mostly A’s and B’s, Sakir is also active in sports and has never been in trouble before, his mother said.

Frustrated and heartbroken, McClurkin has been advocating for her son’s reinstatement. She spoke at a recent Lansing School Board meeting, pleading with officials to reconsider the expulsion. Her remarks, however, went unanswered by the board.

“What am I supposed to do? He’s 11 years old, in seventh grade, and he’s never had any disciplinary issues,” she said. “They’re setting him up to fail.”

Sakir is now enrolled in an unaccredited online program to keep up with his studies, as other online schools have upheld the district’s decision and refused to enroll him. McClurkin said the situation has forced her to reduce her work hours to support her son’s education, creating financial hardship for their family.

The GoFundMe page supporting the family describes Sakir as a brave young boy who acted out of love for his classmates. “Instead of being recognized as a hero, Sakir is being treated like a criminal,” the page states. “His mother now faces the enormous burden of educating him at home, all while grappling with the emotional and financial impact of this decision.”

The district is expected to make a decision on Sakir’s potential reinstatement after the school year.

It remains unclear whether the student who brought the gun to school has faced any disciplinary action.

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