Aldridge said the average person would have thought the pistol was a real gun.

Some middle school students also on the bus overheard the conversation and told the middle school principal. On Monday, the 15-year-old was called into the office. When the BB gun was found in his backpack, school officials called the sheriff&squo;s office.

Aldridge said it is a Class I felony to have a BB gun on school grounds. The sheriff&squo;s office has referred the incident to juvenile services, Aldridge said, because the student is under age 16. Juvenile services and the school system are handling the disciplinary actions. Aldridge said no charges can be made by his office.

The 15-year-old could face a one-year suspension for the incident.

&dquo;It&squo;s very serious,&dquo; said Polk County Schools Supt. Bill Miller. &dquo;No one wants their children on a bus or at school with a safety issue.&dquo;