The Tampa Police Department is currently probing a serious incident at Sligh Middle Magnet School where a gun was found on campus. It was reported on the Tampa Police government's official website that a 13-year-old student discovered the loaded handgun in a backpack left unattended by a teacher, which could have escalated into a grave situation.
Details of the incident reveal that Akeen Barthol, a physical education teacher at the school, carelessly stored his backpack with the gun inside in a gym storage room accessible by students. Unnoticed, the 13-year-old student removed the backpack and, with personal items neglected, took it to a restroom. It was another student who found the backpack and alerted the school staff, which was followed by promptly involving the School Resource Officer.
Addresses regarding the incident were rare, yet Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw made a statement reflecting the gravity of the situation: "Anytime a gun is found on school property is deeply concerning," he said. "We are thankful that this incident did not result in tragedy, and we commend the responsible actions taken by the student who discovered the firearm. Our top priority is to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future," a statement obtained by the Tampa Police Department.
In response to the incident, the aforementioned teacher, the 32-year-old Barthol was arrested and now faces charges including Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds and Allowing a Minor to Obtain a Firearm to Possess on School Grounds. Found in the storage room which the student should never have access to, the teacher was held at Orient Road Jail. By contrast, the 13-year-old involved was charged with Grand Theft (Firearm) and was processed at the Juvenile Assessment Center.
The Tampa Police are involved in ongoing investigations to address recent incidents. They are also calling for policy reviews to prevent future negligence and ensure the safety of students and staff on school grounds.
