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Published on January 23, 2025
Nashville Student Charged After Gun Found in Backpack Amid Heightened School Safety ConcernsSource: Google Street View

An 18-year-old student from McGavock High School, identified as Victor Littleton, has been arrested and charged after a gun was found in his backpack; the discovery was made by school officials who were initially investigating the theft of an iPhone. The incident occurred last night, just hours following a deadly shooting at Antioch High School, adding a layer of tension to an already fraught day for Nashville schools, as reported by WSMV. According to the arrest affidavit obtained by FOX17, the student maintained that he was unaware of the gun's presence, claiming it was placed in his bag by a friend, a friend who admitted ownership of the gun to school officials before fleeing the scene and is still at large.

The events unfolded when a dean at the school, upon investigating the stolen iPhone, conducted a search of Littleton's backpack and discovered the handgun. At the same time, Metro Nashville Police emphasized that no evidence suggests the weapon was intended for use on school grounds. Metro Nashville Public Schools likewise steered away from speculations tying the incident to the Antioch High School shooting, deeming online threats circulating as "unsubstantiated," information coming from a statement by Sean Braisted of MNPS and conveyed through WSMV. Littleton reiterated to the dean, and later to police officers, that his presence at the school was to play basketball with his friend, he claimed ignorance to the firearm's presence within his belongings.

Following his arrest, Littleton was booked into the Metro jail on charges of carrying a weapon on school property, he has been released on a $2,500 bail, according to information from WKRN. The seriousness of the charge reflects the concern over gun presence in schools, especially on the day that was marked by such a nearby tragedy. Littleton will appear in court on February 14 to respond to the allegations.