NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Police are investigating after a firearm was found at Woodside High School Tuesday morning.
Around 8 a.m., a Newport News Police Department School Resource Officer was notified by school security that a student was being taken to the office for possessing a firearm.
It was reported a 15-year-old student brought a firearm to school. The firearm was allegedly located in a binder and a magazine inside his backpack. The weapon was found by the student's parent who had come to the school and signed in to visit the student. Both items were seized by police.
The juvenile was taken to Intake where he was charged with Underage Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Firearm on School Property.
The student who brought the weapon to school is also facing expulsion, school officials said. The school was not placed on lockdown; the weapon and magazine were recovered quickly after the items were found by an adult. Reports say the weapon was not loaded and that the student claims they meant no harm. A message was sent to all Woodside families to inform them of the incident.
After the charges were issued, he was taken to Juvenile Detention, police said.
The principal of Woodside High School, Windy Nichols, issued this statement to parents of students regarding the incident:
This morning during first period an unloaded handgun was discovered in a student's binder. The weapon was found by the student's parent who had come to the school and signed in to visit the student. The weapon was immediately turned over to our school resource officer. The incident is under investigation. While the weapon was not loaded, and the student indicated he meant no harm, we are taking this incident very seriously. No weapons of any kind are allowed at school or on school grounds. The student now faces very serious police charges and expulsion from school. I commend our students for their understanding and cooperation while we were addressing this incident. The safety and security of our students is our first priority. As always, if you have any questions, please contact our office. We appreciate our partnership with you.
