15-Year-Old Brought Loaded Gun To Hillsborough High, Say Tampa Police

TAMPA, FL — A 15-year-old Hillsborough High School student was arrested Wednesday after police said she brought a loaded 9mm gun wrapped in a T-shirt inside her bag to school.

Tampa police said the school resource officer at the high school at 5000 Central Ave. in Tampa, learned about the girl bringing the gun to school from another student. When the resource officer looked for her, however, she was not in her assigned class.

After a search of the campus, the resource officer and school staff found her during dismissal near the school's bus ramp. She was taken to the gymnasium where her backpack was searched and the gun was found inside, said police.

She's been charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property and being a minor in possession of a firearm.

Tampa police are trying to determine where the teen got the gun and her motive for bringing it to school.

"There is no greater priority for our officers than student safety, and we are thankful that our SRO took the information shared with him seriously, taking action to find this student and secure a weapon that could have been used to cause serious harm to others," said Tampa police Chief Mary O'Connor.

"Just one month into the new school year, I cannot stress enough that it is critical for students, teachers and staff to speak up when they are made aware of a threat such as this," the chief said. "See something, say something. In this case, it could have saved lives."