COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia Police say a teenager brought a loaded gun to C.A. Johnson High School.
Officers say around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, a school administrator was told that a 17-year-old student had the weapon on campus. The administrator then reported the claim to the school resource officer, who in turn located the student.
Police say when the SRO searched the student's bookbag, they found the gun. The officer then took the weapon away from the teen.
Officers say there was no reports of any threats made by the suspect. The police are investigating how the student got the weapon.
The teen is now charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, carrying a weapon on school property, and possession of a weapon by a person under 18, according to police. The student was booked into the juvenile section of the Richland County Detention Center.
The police department adds they have free gunlocks are available to the public through the ‘Lock It Up Columbia’ partnership with the City of Columbia. They say these are safety tips to encourage safe storage of firearms:
• Store unloaded firearms in a locked box/case/safe/gun cabinet with a gunlock.
• Never store ammunition in the same place as the firearm.
• Never store keys to a gunlock, box, case, etc. in the same place as the firearm.
• Talk to children & family members about the dangers of firearms in the wrong hands.
• Avoid ‘hiding’ firearms in hard-to-reach places away from children/vulnerable adults. Children especially can climb for access.
