LYNNWOOD – A 12-year-old boy and two of his friends were arrested for allegedly having a handgun at Meadowdale Middle School, police reported Wednesday.

The boy reportedly brought a .45-caliber Colt to school on Monday. He and two friends, a 12-year-old boy and a14-year-old girl, were arrested Tuesday at the school.

The boy was booked into Denney Juvenile Justice Center for investigation of possessing a dangerous weapon on school grounds.

In a statement, the boy reportedly wrote that he brought the gun to scare some older students who had harassed him, Lynnwood police Sgt. Mark Demetruk said.

“There wasn’t anything specific about the harassment. It was a blanket statement,” Demetruk said.

The boy told police he unloaded the gun before carrying it to school in his backpack, Demetruk said. He reportedly took the gun from his parent’s house.

The boy was afraid that the principal would discover the gun, so he passed it off to a boy, 12, and girl, 14, Demetruk said.

After school, the boy took the gun back home.

Word spread about the firearm, and students later told their parents, who called the school.

The school resource officer and school staff began investigating late Monday, Edmonds School District spokeswoman Debbie Jakala said.

The students were put on emergency expulsion pending the outcome of the police and school investigations, Jakala said.

A letter was sent to parents Tuesday saying the gun was never used to threaten anyone.

“These students made a wrong decision in wanting to show off,” Jakala said.

On Wednesday, the boy went before a judge, who set bail at $500, deputy prosecutor Walt Sowa said.

The other two also were arrested, but not booked into detention. None of the students has a previous criminal history, Demetruk said.