Southfield police arrest 15-year-old who brought gun to school
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) - Southfield police took a 15-year-old into custody after officers learned he was in possession of a handgun while at school on Monday.
On Tuesday, chief Elvin Barren released bodycam footage of the moment school resources officers confronted the teenager after receiving a tip from a student that he was carrying a loaded firearm.
Delivering remarks at a press conference, Barren said preliminary information led officers to believe the teen was not planning to use the gun against the school. Instead, they believe he had it as protection.
"To be clear, carrying a gun on school property is unforgivable," Barren said. "There are too many things happening across the country when it comes to these weapons."
The weapon, a .40 caliber S&W, was allegedly stolen from a home in Detroit.
It's unclear how long the teenager had the gun, but police believe he took it while visiting a friend's home. The owner of the gun expressed surprise when learning it had been recovered at Southfield Arts & Technology High School.
It's unclear how the gun was stored and police planned to follow up their investigation.
In addition to commending the actions of officers, Barren also applauded the students who spoke out after learning about the gun. In a statement, the school lauded those involved in reporting the weapon.
"We are proud of and commend the individuals who saw and said something. Their prompt and courageous actions made a profound difference in this situation. In today’s world, we all play a critical role in creating a secure learning environment," read part of the statement.
Southfield police show bodycam footage of student's arrest
A 15-year-old student at Southfield's largest high school was taken into custody Monday after police learned he was in possession of a 40-caliber handgun. Police don't believe he planned to use it against the school, instead he had brought it for protection.
"There are reasons we're encouraging children in schools, if you see something, say something," Barren said.
Earlier this year, the Oakland County sheriff lamented the rise in threats that had been made towards schools, with officers investigating multiple instances that were later revealed to be hoaxes.
The student taken into custody was brought to Children's Village and was later arraigned on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, resisting and obstructing, and possession of a weapon in a weapons free school zone.
Sheriff bemoans uptick in school threats in Oakland County just weeks after classes began
Just weeks into the new year, three students from South Lyon were charged with making threats against the school. Several other investigations have also been carried out across Oakland County.