WCHS junior suspended for bringing loaded gun to school

A high school junior has been suspended after he brought a handgun onto school property, something the teen said was an innocent accident ? not a sinister plot.

The youth, identified only as a 16-year-old Warren County High School junior by authorities, was granted probation Monday during Juvenile Court on charges of possession of a handgun on school property. In addition to the terms of his probation, the teen has also been removed from the high school under the system?s zero tolerance policy and has been given the option of attending the alternative school.

?It?s a felony to bring a weapon onto school property,? said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale. ?If they are caught, sanctions will be taken against them.?

The incident occurred on the Warren County High School campus when school resource officers were dispatched to parking lot A to answer a disturbance call between two female students. However, as one of the officers approached, he observed a vehicle leave the parking lot at a high rate of speed.

?The officer saw the boy take off, squealing tires,? said Sheriff Jackie Matheny. ?It was obvious to the officer the student was trying to get away before he got there to investigate the disturbance.?

The youth was stopped by another school officer before he could leave the gate.

?The teen began acting real nervous,? Matheny said, noting the boy knew both girls in the disturbance but was not involved in the confrontation.

The teen?s nervous actions prompted officers to ask him if he had anything to hide.

?He told them he had a gun under the passenger seat,? Matheny said. ?He was up front about it when he was asked if he had anything in his vehicle.?

A search of the vehicle netted a loaded Glock model 23 handgun, with an extra clip, concealed beneath the passenger-side seat. The teen was taken into custody immediately.

The teen later contended the gun was left inside the vehicle accidentally and that he had not intentionally brought the weapon onto school property. Matheny said there was no evidence the student brandished the weapon at any point.

Carrying of a weapon on school property can bring two to four years in prison for a person over the age of 18 and constitutes a juvenile violation for people who are underage. The juvenile violation carries a maximum sentence of committal to a juvenile facility until the offender?s 19th birthday.

Being caught with a weapon also carries an automatic suspension under the school system?s zero tolerance policy, whether the weapon was intentionally or accidentally brought on school property.