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Authorities are investigating why a 15-year-old student brought a loaded pistol to North Mecklenburg High School on Thursday.
The student was arrested after he ran from a school resource officer who had been tipped off about the gun by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. A loaded semi-automatic gun was found in the student’s backpack in a wooded area across from the school.
The name of the student has not been released because he is a minor. He was charged with five offenses – including possession of a firearm on a school campus and resisting arrest – and transferred to an area juvenile detention facility, according to Huntersville police.
The student also could be suspended from school for up to 365 days for having the gun on campus, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
The student was interviewed by Huntersville police, but it wasn’t clear why he had the gun.
“We may never know,” said Huntersville Lt. Kevin Johnston. “It’s just a bad decision.”
The discovery of the gun came after Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers conducted another investigation at the student’s home. A CMPD spokesman said that he could not comment on the nature of the initial investigation, but said department officers immediately notified Huntersville police after learning the student might have a gun.
A Huntersville police officer serves as the school resource officer at North Meck.
Huntersville police said the resource officer was talking with the student outside a classroom, when the teen turned and ran.
As he ran into the woods, the student dropped his backpack. Police, who brought K-9 units to the scene, found the suspect and weapon.
The possibility of a gun led CMS officials to put North Meck and two nearby schools – Blythe Elementary and J.M. Alexander Middle – on lockdown. The lockdown was lifted around 10 a.m. after the suspect was taken into custody.
