A recent incident at Charger Academy in Covington, Tennessee, involved a 9-year-old student found carrying a weapon on school property. According to a social media post by the Covington Police Department, school officials were notified on Wednesday by a teacher after students reported that a classmate appeared to have a handgun.
The incident reportedly unfolded quickly, with school staff escorting the student to the office, where a search revealed a pellet handgun in the student’s backpack. Chief Donna Turner was quoted as saying, "I commend the student(s) who reported the concerns and the teacher for the quick action to ensure the safety of students and faculty at the school." The Covington Police Department was notified the following day and began an investigation into the matter.
Further investigation showed that the student made threatening statements during a FaceTime call before bringing the weapon to school, with indications that it was intended to be used against another student. Detectives went to the student’s home and collected the imitation handgun as evidence. The juvenile was cited for threat of mass violence and carrying a weapon on school property.
The student has been released to their parents and is awaiting arraignment in Tipton County Juvenile Court before Judge M.O. Eckel, III, as reported by the Covington Police Department. Authorities stressed the importance of communication between parents, guardians, and children about reporting any suspicious or concerning behavior. Chief Turner stated, "Quick actions resulted in a weapon being located before it could be used to harm someone. Our efforts are always to make our school campuses safer for our students and the staff."
Authorities are requesting that anyone with additional information related to the case come forward. Tips may be submitted by calling the Criminal Investigations Division, sending a message via Facebook Messenger to the Covington TN Police Department, or through the City of Covington website.
