A 15-year-old arrested Tuesday afternoon at Gaithersburg High School is facing charges for possession of a loaded gun, according to a statement from Gaithersburg police.
A community engagement officer with the Gaithersburg Police Department was dispatched to Gaithersburg High School at 101 Education Blvd. at roughly 1 p.m. Tuesday for “an investigation,” according to a statement from Gaithersburg police spokesperson Dan Lane.
During the investigation, the statement said, officers and school staff made contact with the 15-year-old. Officers searched the student and found a loaded handgun and arrested the student, according to the statement.
The student was transported to the Gaithersburg Police Department and was charged with underage possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded handgun, possession of a dangerous weapon on school property and possession of a firearm without a serial number, according to the statement.
Principal Brittany Love-Campbell notified the school community in a Tuesday letter that administrators received a report regarding a student at the school potentially in possession of a gun.
The administration notified the school’s community engagement officer, and it was determined that the “item in question” was a loaded firearm, Love-Campbell said. The student was immediately detained, and the gun was confiscated, according to the letter.
“The student will receive appropriate consequences, in accordance with the Montgomery County Public Schools Code of Student Conduct, and the police may have criminal consequences for the student as a result of this matter,” Love-Campbell said.
Love-Campbell said the incident was “alarming” and reinforced that the school community must work together to support safety.
“To that point, we encourage parents and guardians to speak with their children about the importance of understanding the seriousness of firearms, whether real or fake, and the impact such items can have on the safety and security of the school community,” Love-Campbell said.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.
