RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities have charged a student with bringing a gun to an Irmo area school.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department said the 15-year-old male student from Dutch Fork High School was arrested around 11 a.m. on Thursday after school administrators were informed he was showing a gun to other students and may still have it with him.
The sheriff's department said administrators separated the suspect from his backpack and brought him to their office, where he admitted to having a gun in the bag. Authorities found the gun and said it was loaded.
The teen suspect, who was not named due to his age, was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, possession of a pistol by someone under 18 and unlawful carrying of a firearm. The sheriff's department said he was taken to the juvenile wing at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
In a note to parents, Lexington-Richland School District Five said the school system was tipped off through the "StopIt" app, allowing the administration and school resource officer to secure the weapon and student without incident.