A midweek scare hit New Manchester High School in Douglasville when administrators say they discovered a student had brought a gun onto campus and quickly removed the student from school.
According to district officials, the student was identified on Wednesday, and New Manchester staff immediately called in the Douglas County School System police. The district said at no point did the student threaten anyone or aim the weapon at students or staff.
District Confirms Gun, Launches Investigation
In its statement, the Douglas County School System said the object initially reported as a possible weapon was later confirmed to be a gun, and that school police opened an investigation into how it ended up on campus. Administrators secured the building and began interviewing those involved, according to WSB-TV.
District officials said established safety procedures were followed while the incident was handled and stressed that students were safe throughout, WSB-TV reported.
Zero-Tolerance Message Repeated
The district reiterated that the student did not display the gun or make threats but reminded families that it “maintains a strict policy against weapons on campus.” Any student caught with a weapon faces disciplinary action under the student handbook, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Officials declined to say what specific punishment the student is facing, citing federal student-privacy protections. They said the investigation by school police is ongoing and that administrators are following district protocol, FOX 5 Atlanta noted.
Other Recent Metro Atlanta Gun Finds
The gun discovery at New Manchester comes on the heels of other recent weapons incidents around metro Atlanta. On April 2, a firearm was found inside a student’s backpack at South Cobb High School, according to Atlanta News First.
In neighboring Gwinnett County, Gwinnett County Public Schools has been rolling out Evolv weapons-detection systems at middle and high school entrances in an effort to spot guns and other threats before students walk into the building.
Douglas County leaders said administrators and school police at New Manchester followed district safety protocols to secure the campus while the situation was resolved and again emphasized that students’ safety remains the priority, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The student’s name and the outcome of the discipline process were not released because of federal privacy rules.
