HAMPTON, Va. — A 15-year-old was arrested and charged after police found a gun in his backpack at Kecoughtan High School, which led to the evacuation of the school Friday, Hampton police said.
The teen was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, police say. They are investigating this as a "weapons law violation that occurred on school property."
Around 8:15 a.m., police learned that a weapon had been found at the high school after the teen triggered the school's weapon detection system when he entered the building, police said. School security searched the teen's bag and found a gun.
WATCH: Kecoughtan student calls cell phone ban 'stupid' after school evacuation
The School Resource Officer was immediately informed, police say.
"At no time was there an immediate threat to the safety of students, staff, or faculty. The investigation remains active and ongoing," police said.
Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue said they went to the school around 10:28 a.m. in response to a report of a suspicious package, which officials determined was "not a threat and contained no hazards."
WATCH: Parent lauds Hampton schools for Kecoughtan response
Working alongside Hampton police and the school administration, crews were able to evacuate the school, with additional resources from the Newport News Bomb Squad (NNBS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
"Due to a prior school-related incident, enhanced safety checks and protocols were in place and followed," fire and rescue said.
With help from Hampton police, NNBS and ATF, crews dealt with the "suspected device," determining that it was "not a threat," fire and rescue said. ATF took the device to further analyze.
Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue and other partnering agencies are investigating the incident alongside police.
News 3 first learned of this when Hampton City Schools shared in an email that the high school was evacuated Friday morning after a student was found to have a gun in possession on campus.
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When searching the building, a "suspicious package" was also discovered, prompting the evacuation of the building, officials said.
"During Kecoughtan’s routine safety procedures, a firearm was found in a student’s possession while the school was utilizing the weapon detection unit," school officials said. "A school security officer swiftly intervened, confiscated the weapon, and placed the student under the supervision of law enforcement. The weapon was secured, and the student will face appropriate charges and school disciplinary action."
Students were taken to the Hampton Convention Center for reunification with their families.
A mom, Ashley, of one of the students, thought the situation was handled exceptionally well.
"We were escorted to a hall. We were required to present our identification so they could verify that we were actually on the contact list," Ashley said. "From there we were brought to another room to present our student's name and then a staff member from Hampton City Schools brought the student to the parent."
At the convention center, WTKR News 3 reporter Danielle Saitta spoke with Kecoughtan student Steven Knox, who said this isn't the type of school where they expect a situation like this to happen.
"It was a lot to deal with," Knox said. "I didn't come to school expecting this to happen."
Knox and other students who commented on WTKR's social media posts said they were concerned about not having access to their cell phones — due to Virginia's new public school cell phone ban.
"So many people left their phones in the building and now can't contact anyone to get home," one commenter said. "This shows how excessive and unnecessary that law is."
