Student Brought Loaded Gun To High School: Palmetto Police

PALMETTO, FL — A ninth-grader was caught with a loaded pistol Friday morning at Palmetto High School, authorities said.

The 14-year-old student, who hasn’t been named, entered campus through an access point that had a weapons detection system in place, according to a Palmetto Police Department news release.

When he tried to evade the system, he was approached by school guardians, who saw the pistol and disarmed him, police said.

There were no injuries during the incident.

After being taken into custody by Palmetto officers, he told investigators that he had the pistol to defend himself on the walk to and from school, police said.

The boy was charged with possession of a firearm on a school campus.