UPDATED 5:10 pm Feb. 15, 2018
A teenager has been arrested on weapons charges after he brought a gun to school one day after 17 people were killed in a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla.
Germantown Pulse has learned that a teenage male has been arrested this afternoon at Clarksburg High School after he was found to have a gun in his possession. Many details of the arrest are not yet known and the story is still developing.
Clarksburg High School Principal Edward Owusu sent a letter home to parents Thursday afternoon informing them of the incident.
“Shortly after 1:55 pm,” said the letter, “we received a report that a Clarksburg student might be in possession of a weapon at the school. Working with our School Resource Officer (SRO) we quickly located the student in question and conducted a search. While searching the student and their belongings it was discovered that the student was in possession of a handgun. The gun was immediately confiscated and the student was placed under arrest by the SRO.”
“This illegal and dangerous behavior will not be tolerated in our school community,” wrote Owusu. “Weapons of any time are not permitted on or near school property. Any student caught with a weapon will be referred to law enforcement and punished accordingly.”
The news of the arrest comes as Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack R. Smith releases a letter to the community about emergency preparedness.
“The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida has deeply saddened and shaken us all. The thoughts of the entire Montgomery County Public Schools family are with the families who are grieving in the wake of this tragedy,” wrote Smith.
“Additionally, many parents have asked questions about what we do as a district to keep students safe in emergency situations. I want to assure you that we take the safety and security of our students and staff very seriously. MCPS takes a multi-pronged approach to keep schools safe. First, MCPS requires all schools to perform emergency preparedness drills so they can respond quickly and safely in an emergency. This includes lockdown; shelter in place; drop, cover and hold; severe weather; evacuation, and reverse evacuation drills,” wrote Smith.
“MCPS also works closely with local law enforcement agencies to help keep schools safe and secure every day. Through the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, sworn police officers work with the school administrative staff and the school security teams to enhance safety on MCPS school property,” wrote Smith.
“In addition to our preparedness drills and police partnership, we have made investments in infrastructure to secure the physical buildings. This includes access control systems and visitor management systems at all schools, as well as thousands of surveillance cameras installed throughout the interior and exterior of school buildings,” wrote Smith
Smith’s letter concluded, “Most importantly, MCPS has engaged teachers and administrators who are committed to providing students with a safe and welcoming learning environment. These employees, in conjunction with security personnel, ensure that while education is our top priority, safety remains our first priority.”
This story is developing and will be updated as soon as more information becomes available.
File Photo by Germantown Pulse
