WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. — A 15-year-old student was taken into custody after school administrators discovered a handgun on campus at Eastern Wayne High School earlier this month.
According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on March 4 when the school’s resource officer was called to the main office after administrators received a tip that a student may have been carrying a firearm on campus.
School administrators conducted a search of the student and located a handgun inside the juvenile’s coat pocket. The school resource officer then took possession of the firearm, and the student was taken into custody without incident.
The juvenile was placed under secure custody and transported to the Pitt County Juvenile Detention Center.
Juvenile petitions have been secured for several charges, including possession of a weapon on campus or other educational property, carrying a concealed gun, alteration or removal of a firearm serial number and possession of a firearm with the serial number removed, and minor in possession of a handgun.
Because the suspect is a juvenile, authorities said no additional identifying information will be released.
Officials with the sheriff’s office said they will continue working closely with Wayne County Public Schools to maintain the safety and security of students and staff.
