Empty firearm found in Whitley County High School student’s backpack Monday

UPDATE: According to Whitley County Sheriff Danny Moses, the student has been charged with wanton endangerment and carrying a weapon on school property.

ORIGINAL STORY: A 17-year-old Whitley County High School student has been charged after an unloaded firearm was found in their backpack Monday morning.

School officials first learned of a firearm potentially being inside the school due to a report from another student, who stated that they had witnessed a high school student carrying a firearm in their backpack on the bus, according to a press release. The report prompted a search by school resource officers and school administration, who found an unloaded handgun in the student’s backpack.

No ammunition was found with the firearm. Additionally, the student had made no threats of violence and no threats had been reported.

Superintendent John Siler commended the diligence of both the student who made the report and school officials in their handling of the incident.

“We’re very thankful for the student who had the courage to come to a school administrator and report what they had seen. And thankful that we had a school resource officer there in the school, along with the principals and our safety coordinator, who removed the student from the classroom and did the search properly and found the weapon,” said Siler.

Possession of a firearm on school property is a violation of state law.

Due to the student’s age, no name has been released. There has also been no information released regarding the student’s charges. In addition to criminal charges, the student will be facing disciplinary action from the school district as well, according to the release.

Following the incident, Siler also stressed the importance of teaching students to make reports when they learn of something such as this.

“Please, parents, talk to your children about how it is when they see something that’s out of place that is wrong or seems wrong, that they do go to a staff member, administrator, teacher, someone to let that be known so that the proper steps can be taken,” said Siler.

The district also has a tip line on their district webpage where reports can be made.

An investigation into the incident is still ongoing.