McMinn County High School administrators and the McMinn County Sheriff's Department conducted a search of cars in the student parking lot following reports of suspicious activity on Wednesday, leading to the discovery of a weapon in a student's vehicle. According to WVLT, the weapon was confiscated by local authorities.
The student associated with the weapon will face charges in the juvenile court system. The specific charge is possession of a weapon on school property. WVLT also noted that the student involved will face disciplinary actions in line with district policies.
During the incident, it was confirmed that there was no immediate threat posed to the students or the staff on campus. "At no point during this incident was there a threat to students or staff," McMinn County Schools said in a statement obtained by WDEF. This was the second day back to school after the winter break, as indicated by the district.
Coordination between McMinn County School officials and the local Sheriff's Department's K9 Unit was instrumental in the search operation. A weapon was located in one of the vehicles searched. WBIR reported that the school district has reiterated its assurance that the situation was "handled promptly and safely."
