On April 30, a school administrator at St. Charles High School observed a student behaving suspiciously and holding a book bag in a manner that appeared unusual. After the student placed the book bag into a locker, the administrator conducted a search of the locker. That search led to the recovery of a fully loaded firearm. The student, age 15, did not display the weapon. The firearm was secured, and the School Resource Officer (SRO) arrested the student on scene.
The weapon in this case is described as a polymer handgun equipped with a switch capable of converting it to function as a machine gun, and it was loaded with a 30-round magazine. This case follows a separate case on April 29, in which another loaded firearm was recovered from inside the school and a 15-year-old student was arrested.
In response to the incidents, Charles County Public Schools dismissed students for the day. Detectives from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, along with SROs, and Charles County Public Schools administrators are working in close coordination as the investigation continues. K9 gun detection teams from the CCSO, with assistance from other agencies, completed a comprehensive sweep of the school. No additional firearms were located.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to the safety and well-being of all students and staff. Anyone with information about these cases or who has knowledge of any weapons in schools may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app. Additional details will be released when available. The investigation is ongoing.
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CONTACT:
Diane Richardson
Media Relations Specialist
301-609-6557 or 240- 682-1658
The CCSO was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in 2001 and has since earned the highest rating of Excellence. Established in 1658, the CCSO is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States. For more information, visit www.ccso.us. Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of a person responsible for a crime in Charles County. All individuals who provide tips through Crime Solvers will remain anonymous. Anyone with information about an unsolved crime or the location of a fugitive may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app, which can be found in the Android Store and Apple Store by searching P3tips. For more information about the P3 program, click on this link: www.p3intel.com.