FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A 14-year-old boy brought a loaded gun to his middle school in his backpack, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said someone told a teacher at Buddy Taylor Middle School on Friday that a student might have a loaded gun. The teacher told administrators, who alerted the school resource officer Deputy Cory Petty, to conduct an investigation, a news release said.
Petty located the student, detained him and found the loaded gun in his backpack, according to authorities. There was one round in the chamber but there was no magazine in the firearm.
Sheriff Rick Staly said he's glad the gun was confiscated before anyone was injured.
“Our number one concern is the safety of our students and, thankfully, we were able to thwart any plans this juvenile may have had before someone was injured during today’s incident,” Staly said in a written statement. “This student now faces multiple felonies for his actions. Make no mistake, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office takes a zero tolerance approach to weapons and threats on school campuses. This incident was safely resolved because of the great cooperation between school personnel, students, School Resource Deputies, the Sheriff’s Office and the systems we have put in place.”
Deputies said the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Services Division and Domestic Homeland Security Section are investigating the crime.
Flagler County Schools Superintendent James Tager thanked law enforcement officers for their quick action.
“I want to point out the ‘see something, say something’ campaign works. I commend that, combined with the quick actions of our school resource deputies, to bringing a quick resolution to this incident,” Tager said.
Check back for more information on this developing story.