A Massaponax High School student was arrested Thursday and is now facing a felony charge of possession of a firearm on school property.
An 18-year-old from Spotsylvania was later released by the magistrate on unsecured bond. There is no indication he was intending to cause harm at the school, according to a release from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
On Thursday morning, the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Massaponax was alerted by an administrator regarding a pistol located in a student’s book bag.
The student entered the school and was met by an administrator at the entrance. The administrator directed him to walk through the school’s Evolv weapons detection system. The system was implemented at all high schools last year and is now at all middle schools, as well as football games and school board meetings.
The system alerted the administrator to a suspicious area. The administrator then searched the student and his book bag and allegedly located a pistol inside the pocket of the backpack.
The administrator immediately requested the SRO, who responded, investigated the matter, and arrested the student for allegedly possessing a firearm on school property.
Authorities highlighted the school division’s investment in the weapons detection system and commended the administrator for their vigilance.
“School safety is a shared responsibility, and today’s incident demonstrates the importance of strong safety measures and alert staff in helping keep our schools safe,” the sheriff’s office release stated.
