Prom season in Rutherford County came with an unwelcome surprise when deputies and school resource officers found two handguns during vehicle checks at separate high school dances, leading to criminal charges for two adult guests and fresh questions about security at school events.
Officers Say Guns Turned Up During Vehicle Checks
According to WSMV4, 19-year-old Trevor Carter was charged with possession of a weapon at a school function and released on a $2,000 bond. Eighteen-year-old Deangelow Davis of Nashville was charged with carrying a weapon on school grounds and simple possession of marijuana and was released on a $1,500 bond. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office reports that the seized firearms, a Glock 9mm and an AR-15-style pistol, were discovered during vehicle screenings and that no one was injured.
Where Deputies Say the Weapons Were Found
One pistol was recovered from an adult guest’s vehicle tied to Stewarts Creek High School’s prom, held April 25 at the MTSU Student Union Ballroom, and the other was found in a rental car connected to an adult associated with La Vergne High School. Rutherford County Schools told WSMV4, "We will continue our partnership with the sheriff’s office to scan cars, parking lots and provide security inside during prom." The events page for Stewarts Creek High School lists the April 25 prom date and the MTSU venue.
Security And The Role Of SROs
School resource officers and deputies assigned to Rutherford County schools regularly carry out safety operations, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office notes that SROs are posted throughout the district to assist administrators and help manage event security. Public information from Rutherford County Schools lays out a strict ban on weapons and details the steps staff are expected to take when they suspect contraband or threats at school events. Officials say vehicle screenings, including checks for alcohol, are built into their safety planning for large gatherings such as prom.
Legal Penalties
Bringing a firearm onto school property is a criminal offense under Tennessee law. Tennessee Code § 39-17-1309 outlines penalties for carrying weapons on school property, including a maximum of six years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000. Prosecutors decide what charges to file based on the facts of each case, and the eventual outcomes will depend on whether they pursue enhanced counts or lesser charges as the investigations move ahead.
Local Context
The prom-related cases arrive as school districts in the area have been ramping up screening and SRO presence this spring after other weapons were detected at school events. Local reporting has documented earlier incidents this year in Rutherford County in which weapons were found on or near campuses, a pattern that has pushed districts to double down on vehicle and entry checks before major gatherings. WGNS has covered a prior, similar detection at a county school.
Investigations into the prom incidents remain active, and officials say they plan to release additional information as the cases move through the system. The sheriff’s office and school district issued the statements cited here and otherwise have declined to comment further.
