School officials: Student arrested for bringing gun to school (2024)

Peyton Furtado

Anchor

School officials: Student arrested for bringing gun to school after setting off weapons detection system

FIRST, AT FIVE, WE BEGIN IN ANDERSON COUNTY, WHERE THIS MORNING A STUDENT WAS ARRESTED FOR TAKING A GUN TO SCHOOL. AND AS OUR PEYTON FURTADO TELLS US, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME ANDERSON COUNTY HAS DEALT WITH WEAPONS ON CAMPUS. RIGHT? PEYTON? UNFORTUNATELY NOT RIGHT. SYDNEY. YEAH. OF COURSE. ANDERSON. DISTRICT FOUR, TOWNVILLE ELEMENTARY HAD THAT FATAL SHOOTING ALMOST A DECADE AGO. NOW. ACTUALLY. ANDERSON. DISTRICT FIVE. THAT’S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. THEY’VE HAD A FEW INCIDENTS WITH PEOPLE BRINGING GUNS INTO SCHOOL, INCLUDING ONE AS RECENTLY AS LAST YEAR. THAT’S WHY OFFICIALS ARE MOVING MORE IN THE DIRECTION OF PREVENTION. SINCE FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, AN ANDERSON DISTRICT FIVE INVESTMENT HAS PAID OFF. WE HAD AN INCIDENT LAST YEAR WHERE WE FOUND A WEAPON AT WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL. WE FOUND ONE THIS YEAR AND I MEAN, YEAH, YOU CAN’T PUT REALLY A PRICE ON SAFETY. EVERY MORNING, STUDENTS WALK THROUGH THE EVOLVED WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM AT T.L. HANNA HIGH AND WESTSIDE HIGH. THE SYSTEM LOOKS FOR CERTAIN SHAPES. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT WAS ON THE BODY OR IF IT WAS ON THE BACKPACK, THAT WOULD BE TYPICALLY THE AREA WE GO TO FIRST. THIS MORNING SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SAY IT UNCOVERED A HANDGUN AND A 14 YEAR OLD’S GYM BAG AT T.L. HANNA. THERE WASN’T, YOU KNOW, ANY BIG COMMOTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, ACTUALLY, FROM THE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION SENT FROM THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE GUN WAS INADVERTENTLY PUT IN THE BAG. THEY DON’T FEEL LIKE THERE WAS ANY ILL INTENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT 14 YEAR OLD HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE. IN COLUMBIA. IN THE MEANTIME, DISTRICT STAFF FEEL MORE CONFIDENT THE SYSTEM HAS IMPROVED, UTILIZES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SO FROM WHEN WE PUT IT IN TWO YEARS AGO TO NOW, WE HAVE A LOT LESS FALSE HITS. WHEN WE FIRST PUT IT IN, IT WOULD HIT ON LIKE UMBRELLAS. YOU KNOW, QUITE OFTEN CHROMEBOOKS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, ALERTING SCHOOL STAFF TO DANGER. ALLEVIATING FEARS OF A WORST CASE SCENARIO. AND PEYTON, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS WAS AN INVESTMENT FOR ANDERSON DISTRICT FIVE. JUST HOW MUCH OF AN INVESTMENT ARE WE TALKING? YEAH, MARK, I’M TOLD THEY. INVESTED $467,000 IN THESE UNITS HERE AT T.L. HANNA HIGH SCHOOL AND WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL. THAT’S THE OTHER ONE. THEY HAVE UPPED THAT RECENTLY. I’M TOLD THEY BOUGHT FOUR NEW MOBILE EVOLVED WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM UNITS THIS WEEK. THEY PLAN ON ROLLING THOSE OUT AT SOME FOOTBALL GAMES COMING UP LIVE

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School officials: Student arrested for bringing gun to school after setting off weapons detection system

Peyton Furtado

Anchor

Tuesday morning, a 14-year-old student was arrested after a gun was discovered in their gym bag at T.L. Hanna High School. This incident comes nearly a decade after the tragic shooting at Townville Elementary School. In response to past incidents, Anderson District 5 has implemented the Evolv weapons detection system in T.L. Hanna and Westside High Schools. Assistant Superintendent Kyle Newton said Tuesday, "You can't really put a price on safety." The system, which utilizes artificial intelligence, has significantly reduced false alarms since its installation two years ago, according to Newton. And Tuesday morning, according to Newton, it swiftly flagged the handgun, leading to the student's arrest without incident. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office says the gun may have been brought to school by accident. The student has been taken into custody and will be transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia. District staff are confident that the Evolv system improves safety, alleviates fears, and prepares the community for worst-case scenarios. Anderson District 5 continues to invest in mobile systems for upcoming events, buying four this week.

ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. —

Tuesday morning, a 14-year-old student was arrested after a gun was discovered in their gym bag at T.L. Hanna High School.

This incident comes nearly a decade after the tragic shooting at Townville Elementary School.

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Student arrested after gun found at TL Hanna High School, deputies say

In response to past incidents, Anderson District 5 has implemented the Evolv weapons detection system in T.L. Hanna and Westside High Schools. Assistant Superintendent Kyle Newton said Tuesday, "You can't really put a price on safety." The system, which utilizes artificial intelligence, has significantly reduced false alarms since its installation two years ago, according to Newton.

And Tuesday morning, according to Newton, it swiftly flagged the handgun, leading to the student's arrest without incident. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office says the gun may have been brought to school by accident.

The student has been taken into custody and will be transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia. District staff are confident that the Evolv system improves safety, alleviates fears, and prepares the community for worst-case scenarios. Anderson District 5 continues to invest in mobile systems for upcoming events, buying four this week.

School officials: Student arrested for bringing gun to school (2024)

FAQs

What happens to a kid who brings a gun to school? ›

Being accused of bringing prohibited weapons to school can lead to severe consequences. Initially, the student could face suspension or expulsion based on the school's weapons in schools policies.

Do school officials violate students free speech rights when they stop or punish student expression they deem inappropriate and do not want to appear to endorse? ›

The Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." This is true for other fundamental rights, as well.

Can school officials can search a student's backpack without the student's permission if they have reason to believe the backpack contains illegal substances? ›

YES, but only under certain circ*mstances. First, your school must have a “reasonable suspicion” that searching you will turn up evidence that you violated a school rule or law. Second, the way your school does its search should be “reasonable” based on what is being searched for and your age.

Will letting teachers carry guns make schools safer? ›

Arming teachers does not make our schools safer. In fact, putting a firearm in the classroom increases the likelihood that a student will get access to a gun, escalates the risk of shootings, and introduces new liability risks.

Why are students bringing weapons to school? ›

Weapons. Carrying weapons to school has become an acceptable risk for many students, both those who are fearful and those who intend to exploit others. Underlying the reasons students bring weapons to school may be the societal attitude that violence is an effective way to deal with problems.

Are pocket knives allowed at school? ›

Defining Weapons on School Grounds

An unauthorized weapon, Such weapons include a BB gun, dagger, dirk, folding knives with a lockable blade, a knife with a blade 2.5 inches or longer, pellet guns, a razor with an unguarded blade, stun guns, and tasers.

Can a school limit free speech? ›

Yes. Although students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,” school administrators must have the ability to restrict speech that is harmful to other students, in this instance promoting illegal drug use.

Can a school punish you without evidence? ›

When it comes to disciplinary actions in schools, the question often arises: can a school punish you without evidence? The answer is no. Schools must adhere to specific due process rights to ensure that students are treated fairly and justly.

Can you get in trouble at school for something you did outside of school? ›

NO. Your school can only suspend you for behavior explicitly listed in the California Education Code and only for your behavior at school or related to a school activity.

Can teachers say no to the bathroom? ›

Bathroom rights might be something one just assumes, but according to California law, there are no guidelines that decide whether teachers must allow bathroom usage, and CHS has a lack of a general policy on whether a student can leave the classroom to use the restroom.

Can teachers look through your phone? ›

Notwithstanding any other school policies on searches in general,absent reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing with the device beyond merely possessing it or having it turned on or out in the open, school district employees may not search any personal telecommunication device without the express authorized consent of the ...

Can they search my backpack at school? ›

To search you or your belongings (like your bag), a school officer must have reasonable suspicion* to believe that you broke a school rule or committed a crime, and the extent of the search must be related to the reason that you are being searched.

How many school shootings in 2024? ›

Number of shootings at K-12 schools and college campuses U.S. 2008-2024. As of July 11, 35 incidents of school shootings were recorded in the United States in 2024, impacting K-12 school grounds and college campuses nationwide. In comparison, there were 82 school shooting incidents recorded in 2023.

What percentage of teachers want to be armed? ›

The survey found that 54 percent of teachers believe teachers carrying firearms would make schools less safe, 20 percent believe teacher-carry would make schools safer, and 26 percent feel it would make schools neither more nor less safe.

Are armed guards in schools effective? ›

While additional security measures are important, armed guards alone cannot guarantee safety. Schools need comprehensive solutions that go beyond physical security.

Why do kids bring knives to school? ›

But sometimes, students might bring guns, knives, or other weapons to school for attention, to protect themselves, or to threaten or harm others.

What is the Gun Free School Zone Act in California? ›

Penal Code § 626.9 PC is California's Gun-Free School Zone Act. This section makes it illegal to have or use a gun in a school zone. A “school zone” is any area within 1,000 feet of a public or private school.

What did the Gun Free Schools Act in 1994 mandate? ›

In an attempt to foster school safety through punitive measures, the Act required each state to create and implement a law mandating at least a one-year expulsion of students who brought a weapon to school and referral to a local criminal legal or juvenile legal system.

What is Act 26 in PA? ›

Act 26 charges OVR, in collaboration with Pennsylvania's Department of Education (PDE), to collect and report data related to special education students with transition plans and with facilitating the process of job and career development between local education agencies (LEAs) and public and private employers, ...

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