13-year-old charged with bringing gun to NC middle school, police said

HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — A 13-year-old boy is in custody after an unloaded gun was found in his backpack at a Triad middle school on Monday morning, according to the High Point Police Department.

Police said at around 8:20 a.m. on Monday, the student was entering the school building when a weapons scanner alerted staff. An unloaded 9-millimeter handgun was found in a student’s bag.

Police say the student, a 13-year-old boy, and the gun were quickly secured by FMS staff and a school resource officer. The weapon was never displayed and the boy never made any threats. No one was threatened or harmed.

Officers filed a juvenile petition, charging the boy with felony possession of a stolen firearm, felony possession of a firearm on educational property, possession of a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm by a minor.

A secure custody for the 13-year-old was obtained, and he was taken to the Guilford County Juvenile Detention Center.

In a statement from GCS addressing the incident, it reads, “The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is the district’s top priority. In any instance, when it is safe to do so, parents are the first to be notified of incidents that affect our campuses. We want to thank our law enforcement partners and staff for their quick action to keep our campus safe and as a reminder, if you see something, say something.  Students can submit an anonymous tip through the secure website, sandyhookpromise.org or call 1-844-5-SayNow.”