A teacher at Spaulding High School in Barre was injured after being struck in the back by an airsoft pellet Tuesday afternoon, according to school and city officials.

Police are investigating two first-year students, ages 14 and 15, in connection with the incident — though it wasn’t clear as of Tuesday evening which of them fired the gun, said Brad Vail, the Barre City Police Department chief, in an email. 

A post on the school’s Facebook page states that the incident happened as students were heading home for the day. Police responded to the school within minutes, Barre Unified Union School District Superintendent Chris Hennessey wrote in the post.

The teacher — who was not identified by officials — sustained a “superficial injury” and was hit with a hard plastic BB, according to police and the school.

Vail said police expect to file criminal charges in connection with the incident once their investigation is complete.

VTDigger's state government and economy reporter.