Schools
Student Brought A Gun To Gar-Field High School On Thursday, Principal Says
A student brought a gun to Gar-Field High School on Thursday, principal Matt Mathison said in a letter to families. No one was injured.
WOODBRIDGE, VA — A student brought a gun to Gar-Field High School on Thursday morning, principal Matt Mathison said in a letter to community members. Officers with the Prince William County Police Department responded to the school to confiscate the firearm.
The school learned about the gun due to a tip from the Prince William County Police Department. Officers were able to confiscate the firearm without any further incident, and they are still investigating the circumstances that caused the student to bring the gun to school.
In a report released on Friday, police said the student, a 15-year-old boy, refused to cooperate. Authorities said he struggled with the school resource officer when they tried to search his bag.
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The student, who has not been publicly identified due to Virginia laws that protect the identities of minors, was arrested. He is being held at the Prince William County Juvenile Detention Center.
"The incident was dealt with promptly and effectively thanks to the PWC Police Department," Mathison said in a letter to families on Thursday. "Out of an abundance of caution, we had increased security at the school today and will tomorrow, as well."
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In his letter, Mathison also reminded families about the school system's anonymous tipline. Students and community members can submit anonymous tips at any time through SaySomething, which can be reached by calling 1-844-5-SAYNOW or by visiting their website.
"As always, it is our commitment to keep our students, staff, and families as safe as possible at all times at Gar-Field High School," Mathison said. "We greatly appreciate your support in these efforts."
The school was never placed on a lockdown on Thursday after officials learned of the gun. Many teachers and faculty members did not learn that there was a gun on campus until a meeting after the school day on Thursday afternoon.
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