A teenage boy was arrested yesterday at Vernon Middle School in Harlingen, Texas, after being found with a handgun and ammunition. The 14-year-old student was taken into custody without incident following a tip-off to school authorities, which originated from the student's own display of the firearm to a classmate, as reported by MySA.

Details provided by the Harlingen Police Department indicate that the teen showed the gun to another student. This interaction set off a chain of disclosures, culminating in the classmate informing their sister, who then conveyed the information to their mother. The mother acted promptly, alerting the principal of Vernon Middle School, according to ValleyCentral. After being alerted, Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District security was able to locate and detain the student.

The Harlingen Police also reported that the firearm was not charged with a round, although the accompanying magazine contained about eight rounds of ammunition. It appears that the magazine and the bullets were all discovered inside the student's backpack. Following this incident, the district has emphasized that the safety of students and staff is its highest priority, thanking the community for its vigilance in an issued statement.

"HCISD and all law enforcement agencies will aggressively prosecute individuals committing these crimes. We would like to thank our administration and staff for their quick response in these situations," the district wrote in an announcement, as mentioned by MySA. The student is expected to face a charge for unlawful possession of a weapon on school premises, and police are considering if additional charges are warranted as the investigation proceeds.

While the specifics of this case continue under investigation, the district has conveyed reassurance to parents and the broader community that all students and staff remain safe and encouraged the continuation of the "if you see something, say something" approach to communal safety, as detailed by MySA.