A routine morning at Stratford STEM Magnet High School in East Nashville was cut short Friday when a weapons-detection scanner flagged a loaded handgun hidden in a 17-year-old student’s backpack. Staff quickly alerted authorities, the student was arrested, and officials said no one was hurt.
The Metro Nashville Police Department told WSMV that the school’s Evolv concealed-weapons system triggered the alert, prompting officers to respond to the campus. The student was taken into custody on a charge of possessing a firearm on school property, according to the station’s report.
How the Detectors Were Rolled Out
Metro Nashville Public Schools has deployed Evolv concealed-weapons detection systems across its high schools, and district materials state that the devices were installed at all high school campuses by the end of the 2024–25 school year. The district has hosted informational sessions to explain how the technology is designed to spot weapons while keeping student entry lines moving, according to Metro Nashville Public Schools.
What the Law Says
Tennessee law generally bars firearms on school grounds, with only limited exceptions for how guns may be stored or transported under specific conditions. A recent opinion from the state attorney general walks through those restrictions, citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1309 and related statutes that make having a firearm on campus a criminal offense in many circumstances.
Not the First Time at Stratford
The incident adds to a troubling history at Stratford. In May 2022, a loaded 9mm handgun was found in a student’s backpack at the school, one of several on-campus gun discoveries that year, WSMV reported. That pattern fed into the district’s push to ramp up screening and other safety measures.
Metro Nashville Police processed Friday’s arrest and said the 17-year-old faces a charge of possessing a firearm on school property, with the case now moving through the juvenile system as applicable. Parents and community members who want more information have been directed to follow up with MNPS or the Metro Nashville Police Department for any further updates.
