By MILLIE ROTHROCK/Staff
Wythe County sheriff’s deputies have charged a15-year-old George Wythe High School student with carrying a handgun on campus.
The freshman was charged Tuesday with underage possession of a firearm and having a firearm on school property, said Keith Dunagan, chief deputy. He was charged at the sheriff’s department and was released to his parents.
Dunagan said a parent called him Friday, Feb. 10, and reported that their child heard a discussion about a student having a gun at school. Over the weekend, deputies interviewed students, as well as the student in question.
Deputies have not recovered the weapon, but do have evidence that the student carried the gun to school.
“We have witnesses who said he had a gun on campus,” Dunagan said. “We know of at least one day.”
Dunagan said the student never made any threats regarding the gun.
“The statement that he made was that he brought it for personal protection,” Dunagan said. “He did not threaten anyone and we are not aware of threats being made toward him.”
Wythe County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lee Brannon would not comment on the incident, but said that if school officials determine that the charges are true, they will follow proper protocol as outlined in the school policy manual.
The manual states that “the disciplinary sanction for bringing a firearm to school or to a school sponsored activity is expulsion for at least one year.”
Contact Millie Rothrock at mrothrock@wythenews.com or 228-6611.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement