PGCP Arrested A Student Thursday After A Ghost Gun Was Found In A PGCPS Classroom

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A student was arrested Thursday after police say the student brought a ghost gun onto school property. A ghost gun is an un-serialized weapon that cannot be tracked.

Around noon, someone called Prince George's County Police about a student who had a gun at Fairmont Heights High School on Columbia Park Road in Landover, the Prince George's County Police Department said.

Authorities put the school on lockdown and officers began searching the school. Police said they found a disassembled ghost gun in a classroom and then arrested the student who allegedly brought the gun parts to school.

The police department has not named the student or provided the person's age as of Thursday afternoon.

“As our entire nation continues to grieve the loss of life in the Texas mass shooting, the Prince George’s County Police Department wants to ensure the community that the safety of students in our schools is our top priority. Bringing a weapon to school or even making a threat of violence will not be tolerated. We will arrest and charge accordingly,” Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz said.

In light of the Texas shooting, the PGPD has increased patrols at county schools.

"We encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious or learns of any potential threat at a school to notify police," the department said.

Brenda Marshall received a text from her daughter who attends Fairmont Heights High School that read, "'They just came in my classroom and handcuffed him,'" she told NBC Washington. Marshall said she thought of the Texas tragedy as she headed to Fairmont Heights High School to check on her daughter.

"I'm very concerned on what's going on with my daughter because we've been hearing of all these shootings and stuff that's going on," she said.

On Friday, the police department shared that it has charged the male student with possession of a handgun by a minor and has been committed to a juvenile detention facility. Further investigation revealed the ghost gun parts recovered yesterday would make an operable un-serialized gun if assembled. No ammunition or magazine were located however. This remains an active investigation, police said.