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Lakewood High student found with loaded gun at school, police say

 
Published Aug. 25, 2016

ST. PETERSBURG — A Lakewood High student was arrested at the school this week after police found a loaded handgun hidden under his clothes, officials said Wednesday.

A St. Petersburg police officer working as Lakewood's student resource officer discovered a .22-caliber four-shot revolver Tuesday tucked inside the 15-year-old student's waistband and removed the gun without incident, police said.

The find happened by chance after a probation officer visited the school around 3 p.m. to see another student. That officer informed the resource officer that the 15-year-old was wanted on warrants for trespassing and disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.

The student has been charged with possession of a weapon on school property, a third-degree felony.

Police spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez said the student did not share with the officer why he brought the weapon to school.

Pinellas County Schools spokeswoman Lisa Wolf said the student may face expulsion under the school district's student code of conduct. Expulsions must be approved by the School Board.

Lakewood principal Erin Savage notified parents of the incident Tuesday evening in an automated phone call.

"As soon as the situation was discovered, the weapon was quickly apprehended, without incident, by our school resource officer," Savage told Lakewood families.