A 15-year-old was arrested after he brought a handgun to school, the St. Pete police said.
Thursday, the St. Pete Police Department said a ninth-grade student at Gibbs High School was charged with possession of a weapon on school property and unlawful carry of a concealed firearm.
Police said a staff member first told the School Resource Officer about a student whom they believed was concealing a gun in his clothes. Officers noted that the child did not make any threats against any students or the school.
“The St. Petersburg Police makes the safety of students a top priority and any weapon on campus, or other threat to school safety, will be thoroughly investigated,” an SPPD spokesperson said. “This serves as a reminder to students that this is taken very seriously and the consequences could be severe.”
Public Information Specialist Ashley Limardo told 10 Tampa Bay News over a phone conversation that parents should know that guns should always be secured and away from children. Limardo also recommended that kids should be taught not to touch or take a gun that is not theirs.
Limardo added that if you see a child with a firearm, you should report it to the police.
Additionally, the St. Pete police has gun locks available upon request at its headquarters at 1301 1st Ave N.