An 18-year-old student at Mid-Del Pathways Learning Academy was arrested Wednesday afternoon after Del City police found a pistol inside his car, which was parked on school grounds. The student, identified as Kijae Lofton, was taken into custody following a tip from a staff member who reported that he had been making threats toward a peer, according to police.
Tip About Threats Led Police to the Car
A staff member reported threats involving a firearm, as reported by News9. Del City police responded to the campus and found the pistol in Lofton's parked car. Police said no further information is being released at this time.
Oklahoma School-Property Firearm Law
Under 21 O.S. § 1280.1, possessing a firearm on public or private school property is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $250, according to Justia Law.
The statute provides several exceptions, including specified approved training or events and weapons possessed by authorized personnel. It also allows a handgun carried pursuant to a valid handgun license onto property set aside for vehicle use or parking by an elementary or secondary school, if it is stored in a locked vehicle and hidden from view when the vehicle is unattended. The statute's vehicle-related exceptions mean that finding a pistol in a car does not, by itself, establish a violation.
The discovery took place at Mid-Del Pathways Learning Academy. The school took immediate action to ensure Lofton will not return to campus for the remainder of the school year.
Part of a Wider September Pattern
Earlier in September, Hoodline reported that two Norman High students were detained after guns were found on campus.
In 2023, Mid-Del schools added metal detectors and clear-bag requirements at football games, according to reporting from the Oklahoma City Free Press.
It remains unclear what charges the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office will pursue against Lofton, and Del City police have not released additional details about the case.
