SANFORD, Fla. – A 16-year-old student was arrested during the summer session at Seminole High School after someone tipped off investigators that they had brought a weapon to campus, according to officials.
A message sent to parents said the weapon was found inside the student’s backpack; however, the student had not threatened anyone with it.
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The district said it will have more law enforcement on campus, including a dog trained in weapons detection, out of an abundance of caution.
Read the whole message from the district below:
Dear Seminole High Summer School Families and Staff,
I wanted to reach out personally to let you know that today, our administration received a tip about a student with a possible weapon on campus.
We immediately engaged with our law enforcement partners and located the student in question. Law enforcement searched the student's backpack and found a weapon. During the investigation, it was determined this individual did not make a threat to any persons or the campus, however, having any type of weapon on campus is strictly prohibited.
Proper disciplinary actions have been taken at this time, and the student has been taken into custody by law enforcement. Out of an abundance of caution, we will have additional law enforcement presence on campus including our weapon detection K9 officer.
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority and we are thankful for the individuals who reported this tip. It takes all of us working together to keep our campus a safe and vibrant community of learning.
Seminole County Public Schools
The student’s arrest report, shared by the Sanford Police Department, describes how a faculty member beckoned a school resource officer and informed them of the tip.
The resource officer and the faculty member approached the student — who News 6 is not naming — and asked them what their last name was, to which the student allegedly replied, “Why?”
A loaded Ruger SR22 pistol was found inside a sling bag that the student was wearing, the report states. After the officer unloaded the nine-round magazine and cleared the gun’s chamber, a check was conducted of the firearm’s serial number and returned negative results, according to police.
The student faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon at school and unlawful carry of a concealed firearm, the report states. They were taken to the Seminole County Juvenile Assessment Center for further processing as the firearm was submitted to evidence, police said.
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