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Statesville police arrest 15-year-old accused of bringing gun to school

STATESVILLE, N.C. — The Statesville Police Department has arrested a 15-year-old after he allegedly brought a gun to Statesville High School.

The student is charged with possession of a firearm on an educational campus and carrying a concealed weapon on an educational campus.

School officials said on Monday, a resource officer noticed a student was showing other students something in his backpack in the cafeteria.

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The student was sent to an assistant principal’s office, and school officials said he admitted to having a weapon in his backpack before they conducted a search.

Officials said they found an unloaded .45 caliber handgun and a full magazine of ammunition.

They said this was an isolated incident and students and staff were never threatened.

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“I have to thank the quick thinking of School Resource Officer Kathleen Pope. She noticed something was afoot and notified administration immediately and let the search process take over,” Principal Hans Lassiter said in a news release.

Officials said additional resource officers were on campus for the rest of the day, but classes were not interrupted.

“Decisions, no matter how youthful, no matter how ill-timed, have consequences. Here we have a young man who has signed away one full year of his education and possibly his freedom. The safety of our students and staff takes priority,” Lassiter said.

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