Brevard 8th grader arrested after losing stolen gun at school, police say

ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – A search for a missing gun is ongoing at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Brevard County after an eighth grade student took the gun from his grandmother, brought it on campus and later lost it, according to Rockledge officials.

Rockledge police arrested Bradley Bell, 16, Wednesday. The teen told authorities he took the firearm from his grandmother and brought it in his backpack to school Tuesday because he didn't want to get caught with it at home.

The gun went missing while Bell was in gym class, police said.

"Somebody had gone through his backpack, which was not secured in a locker," Rockledge police Detective Bob Weigel said.

Weigel said Bell previously brought his grandmother's gun onto campus. Two weeks ago after a volleyball game, Bell took the revolver outside the school gym and fired a single round into the ground, Weigel said.

Police officials said Bell is being very cooperative and was not trying to shoot up the school, but has a fascination with guns.

Bell is charged as an adult with four felonies, including discharging a firearm in public and grand theft.

News 6 was in court for his first appearance Wednesday.

Bell told Brevard County Judge James Earp he could not afford to pay for his own attorney and was assigned to be represented by the public defender's office. Bell will be arraigned May 8.

Bell was being held in the juvenile detention center Wednesday and Brevard Public School officials said he faces expulsion.

Parents received a letter Tuesday night from the school's principal, who said the boy took the gun to school. The letter also said, "Student safety is always our first priority." 

Kennedy Middle School parents and grandparents were upset by the news.

"I hate it that the kids got to go through all this, scared to come to school and stuff," grandparent Janice Johnson said.

Police and the Patrick Air Force Base personnel used K-9 units Tuesday night to search the Rockledge campus.

"We went through the entire school, through lockers, through the classrooms, through the grounds, and I can 100 percent say there is not a handgun or a firearm on this property as of last night," Weigel said.

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