Student With Gun Arrested At Tampa Middle School: Police

TAMPA, FL — A middle school student in Tampa faces charges after bringing a gun to school Wednesday, authorities said.

An anonymous student told the school resource officer at Franklin Middle School, 3915 E. 21st Ave., that the 13-year-old suspect possibly had a gun and was showing it to other students, according to a Tampa Police Department news release.

The officer and school staff found the suspect in the cafeteria, brought him to a different room and searched his backpack, which had a loaded, semi-automatic pistol in it, police said.

The teen said that he “brought (it) from home for protection,” TPD said.

No threats were made to the school or any students.

He was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, a felony, and for being a minor in possession of a firearm.

While TPD released the suspect's name, it is Patch's policy not to identify those in the juvenile court system. Police didn’t say whether he was charged as a juvenile or adult, and Patch reached out to the agency for additional information.