Teen arrested for having gun at Pigeon Forge High School

Several students told school officials they saw what they believed was a gun in the waist area of a male student’s clothes, according to a written statement from Pigeon Forge Police Chief Jack Baldwin. School resource officer Jason Biamonte and school officials took the student to an unoccupied area of the school, searched him and took a loaded 9 mm pistol from him.

No shots were fired and no one was injured. The student, who was not identified by police or school officials, was arrested.

“At this time it appears no other students were involved,” Baldwin said in a statement. An investigation into the incident is continuing. Baldwin was unavailable to answer questions Tuesday afternoon.

District Attorney General Al Schmutzer said in a statement that the teenager was arraigned by Juvenile Judge Jeff Rader on charges of delinquency for allegedly possessing a firearm on school property, possessing a firearm while under the influence and resisting a search.

Rader ordered the student be held without bond and set his case for Oct. 25 at 9 a.m.

School system officials declined comment beyond a written statement. Officials said additional counselors will be available at the school on Wednesday to talk with any students concerned about the incident.