A student at Middletown High School was arrested Tuesday morning after school personnel discovered a knife and a loaded gun on the adolescent.
According to the Appoquinimink School District and Delaware State Police, a parent reported that a student may be carrying a firearm.
As the teenager entered the building to go to class, school personnel found the student and the student was taken out of the building after the school resource officer secured the firearm.
Middletown High School Is Currently Out of Danger, as No Injuries Have Been Reported
Middletown High School is not currently in danger. The student’s identity, age and other details regarding potential charges have not been made public by officials.
The reason the student brought the weapons on campus has also not been disclosed.
“This is all the information we have at the moment, but we wanted to make sure that students’ families were immediately made aware,” the district said in a message sent to parents and families Tuesday.
School Authorities Took Prompt Action, and Parents Were Notified Right Away
Families were also informed that they were collaborating with state police and would provide further information as it became available. It was unclear when more details would be made available.
The message commended the school personnel for responding promptly and thanked the parent for reporting the issue.
It was signed by Principal Nell Jean and Superintendent Matt Burrows.
State police are conducting the investigation. How the student got the gun and whether anyone else was involved were not immediately apparent.
Officials said the student is 15 and that the school resource officer took him to an empty classroom after acting on the parent’s tip. Per the police, he refused to hand over his bags and resisted.
School staff and the officer eventually secured both bags and found a loaded 9 mm handgun and a 4-inch knife, per reports.
The teen was arraigned in Family Court on charges that include possessing a firearm and ammunition as a person under 21, possessing a firearm in a safe school zone and resisting arrest. He was committed to a juvenile detention center on a $70,100 cash bond.
The incident is the latest reminder of the role parents and community members can play in school safety. Experts often urge families to speak up when they hear or see something concerning, including social media posts, comments from students or signs that a young person has access to a weapon.
Parents who have questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the school or district directly. Anyone with information about the case can contact Delaware State Police.
