DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – School officials are crediting a Johnston Middle School student with stopping a Union County teen from selling a gun.  Johnston School District spokeswoman Laura Dillavou says the Johnston student reported 15-year old Dyrell Thorton, of Lorimor, after receiving text messages from him about selling a gun. Thorton, who attends East Union High School in Afton, was arrested Jan. 9 on weapons and other charges.

Police investigated the teen and discovered he used a school computer to send messages about a gun sale to a student at Lincoln High School in Des Moines. Afton Police Chief John Coulter says the middle school student thwarted the boy’s plans to sell the gun. Coulter says he previously thought Internet software had alerted officials to the messages, but that wasn’t true.

Police haven’t found the gun.