Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a student at Southeast High School for having a handgun at school.
At approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2023, a school administrator walked into a boy’s restroom and saw a student showing a gun to three other students.
The 14-year-old student tried to hide the firearm by placing it inside his backpack. The administrator was able to take the backpack away and escort the student to the School Resource Officer (SRO).
The SRO took custody of the student and found a 9 mm handgun and four live rounds inside the backpack.
The deputy searched the three other students involved and did not find additional weapons. No threats were made about a shooting or violence to anyone at the school.
The 14-year-old is charged with Possession of a Firearm on School Property. Deputies are still investigating where the student got the gun and why he had it on school property.