A tip about a possible weapon at Ridgeview High School in Orange Park turned into a criminal case Thursday when a loaded handgun was found in a student’s car on campus, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
School administrators and a school resource officer searched the student’s vehicle in the parking lot and discovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, officials said. The SRO seized the weapon, and the student was arrested on a charge of possessing a weapon on school property and booked into the Clay County Jail. Deputies collected the firearm as evidence and filed the charge, as reported by News4JAX.
Authorities say the search followed a tip that the student might have a weapon in his vehicle. No injuries were reported.
How the District Handles Tips and SRO Searches
Clay County District Schools uses reporting tools such as SaferWatch and FortifyFL, which send tips to school administrators and law enforcement for review. District materials explain that school resource officers work with administrators to investigate credible reports and secure campus safety, while the district handles parent notifications and any follow-up steps.
For more on the district’s safety programs, see Clay County District Schools.
Legal Consequences Under State Law
Florida law treats possession of a firearm on school property as a serious offense. Willful possession on campus is classified as a third-degree felony, and minors charged under this statute may be detained and given a probable-cause hearing within 24 hours.
The full penalties and exceptions are outlined in Florida Senate records.
Incidents Across the County
This is not the first weapons case tied to a Clay County school parking lot. In September 2024, administrators at Oakleaf High School found an unloaded weapon in a student’s car after staff acted on a tip, officials said. That earlier case, reported by ActionNewsJax, ended without injuries and underscored how staff and peer reports can stop weapons from reaching school buildings.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says the latest arrest remains under investigation and has not released additional identifying details about the student. Parents looking for official updates are advised to keep an eye on statements from the district and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
