Security personnel in a Prince George’s County high school searched a student for drugs and found a loaded gun, authorities say.
The handgun was found Wednesday morning at Fairmont Heights High School in Landover, county police said. The student, a 17-year-old junior, will be charged as an adult. Their name was not released.
According to the initial investigation, “a witness notified administrators the suspect may possess illegal drugs,” police said in a statement. Security personnel searched the student and found drugs, the gun and “an attached machine conversion device.”
The school resource officer was notified at about 11 a.m., police said.
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The student faces multiple weapons charges, as well as possession of a controlled substance.
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“It’s alarming, absolutely alarming, and we wish they had communicated a little better,” said a school parent who said she had not previously heard what happened.
Ten guns were found in county schools last year, two were found over the summer and two have been found so far this school year.
Prince George’s County Public Schools said in a statement that the district has “zero tolerance for weapons on campus or actions that compromise the safety of our students and staff.”
“Today, we are grateful for the swift and decisive action taken by school security staff and our law enforcement partners which prevented a potentially serious incident at Fairmont Heights High School,” the statement said in part.
Security screening devices are being phased into all high schools and some middle schools, the district said.
A safety rally organized by the SafeTeach’23 campaign will be held Thursday at 5 p.m. outside of the Prince George’s County Board of Education building. The group was started by an elementary teacher who said she was attacked by two students last May.
A 16-year-old girl who was a student at DuVal High School was shot and killed while leaving school with her brother on Sept. 11.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
