A 25-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after school police say he brought a handgun onto the campus of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, triggering a classroom sweep and a search of student belongings.
Miami-Dade Schools Police identified the suspect as 25-year-old Johnbilly Forestal. Investigators say a teacher first reported spotting what appeared to be a gun in a women’s restroom. Officers later recovered a silver Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum tucked inside a green-and-orange Nickelodeon backpack, according to Local 10.
Forestal told detectives he had the revolver “for protection” and admitted he knew he was not supposed to have the gun on school grounds, the arrest report states. He was booked on a count of possession of a firearm on school property and is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bond listed as “to be set.”
How Officers Responded
School staffers told investigators the gun was first noticed in a women’s restroom, which set off an on-campus safety check that included searching student bags inside a classroom. With the school’s surveillance cameras reportedly inoperable, a Miami-Dade Schools Police detective took over the investigation and impounded the revolver as evidence.
Legal Implications
Carrying a firearm on school property is prohibited under Florida law. Florida Statutes 7790.115, as published by the Florida Senate, generally makes that a third-degree felony.
A conviction for a third-degree felony can bring prison time and fines under the sentencing statutes Florida Statutes 7775.082 and 7775.083, which are summarized by Justia. Actual penalties depend on the specific facts of the case and a defendant’s criminal history.
Context and What’s Next
The arrest comes amid a run of weapons-related incidents in Miami-Dade this month and in recent years. Local 10 reported a separate arrest last week after a man was allegedly found with a loaded handgun during dismissal at a K-8 school. The area around Miami Northwestern has also seen violence in prior years, including a 2024 shooting that led to felony charges, according to NBC6.
The arrest report does not explain why Forestal was on the Miami Northwestern campus. Investigators say the probe remains active, and prosecutors will ultimately decide what charges to pursue.
For now, detectives have impounded the .357 Magnum and continue collecting evidence. Forestal remains in county custody with his bond still listed as “to be set,” and Miami-Dade Schools Police have not released additional details as the case moves through the system.
