What to Know
- A .40 caliber handgun was found inside a student's backpack at a high school in Stafford County.
- The school principal sent an email to parents notifying them of the incident.
- According to the email, no one was threatened or hurt by the incident.
A 17-year-old high school student has been arrested in Stafford County, Virginia, Friday after police say a handgun was found in the student's backpack.
In a letter to parents, Colonial Forge High School Principal Greg Daniel said police removed a .40 caliber handgun from the student’s backpack.
Police said "suspicious activities" led them to search the student. The juvenile has been charged with possession of a concealed weapon and possesion of a firearm on school property.
No one was threatened or hurt, Daniel said.
Sheriff's deputies are investigating how the student got the gun.
The student is being held at the Rappahannock Juvenile Center.
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Daniel said students should report any threats to the school resource officer or an administrator.
A spokesperson for Stafford County Public Schools gave the following statment to News4:
"On Friday, October 14, 2016, Law Enforcement Officers confiscated a handgun from a student’s backpack at Colonial Forge High School. No one was threatened or hurt in the incident. Administrators acted swiftly by reporting this information immediately to law enforcement when they noticed suspicious activity from the student. Stafford County Public Schools takes this matter very seriously. The safety of students and staff is a top priority for SCPS. There is zero tolerance for weapons on campus."
Stay with News4 and NBCWashington as we continue to update this developing story.
