Winter Haven Student Charged With Bringing Gun, Knives To School

WINTER HAVEN, FL -- A 14-year-old student at Winter Haven Christian School was taken into custody on Thursday, April 5, after a firearm and two knives were found inside of his backpack.

The weapons were inside of a backpack that was located inside of a locker, not in a classroom.

No students no staff members were injured and there was never any threat by the student to harm anyone.

On Thursday at about 2 p.m., Winter Haven Police responded to a call regarding a firearm that was found inside of a backpack. At the time of the call, the school administration of Winter Haven Christian School, 1700 Buckeye Loop Road, had the backpack and weapons secured and the student was isolated with administrators.

The backpack contained a butterfly-style and an SOG-brand folding pocket knife. Also found was a Kimel AP-9 semi-automatic pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition.

The teen told investigators that he recently had been listening to rap music and wanted to bring the gun to feel "powerful" and "cool.” He obtained the gun, which belongs to his father, from his home the night before.

He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Polk County Detention for Juvenile Justice on charges of one count of possession of a firearm on school grounds and two counts of possession of a weapon on school grounds.

"This should hopefully serve as a warning to any student who thinks it's cool to carry a weapon, especially on school grounds," said Chief Police Charlie Bird. "There is absolutely no room for cool when it involves any sort of weapon in a school with the recent events our country has endured."

Image via Winter Haven Police

Image via Winter Haven Christian School