JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 15-year old student at Terry Parker High School was arrested last week after he was found to be carrying a loaded gun in his pants on Friday, police say.
Bryan Smith was sent to the principal's office because he wouldn't stop talking on his cellphone in the cafeteria, according to the report. He called his mother to come to school then asked to use the bathroom, according to police.
As Smith turned, the principal could see the outline of the gun in his pants. A school police officer was called, and when Smith was told that he was going to be searched, he resisted, and was taken to the floor, the report said.
Smith had a loaded Ruger .380 and a Jacksonville Transportation Authority badge in his possession, according to police.
"They did the right thing, because the student was in the office away from other students," said News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith, a former school resource officer. "They did put out a code red, just in case he did run out in the hallway and other students could have been endangered. It seems like the school did exactly the right thing, brought people in to get the gun from the student."
Smith's mother said he told her that he had found the gun. She intended to call police that night, but fell asleep, the report said.
The gun had not been reported as stolen, police said.
A letter was sent home with students on Friday to tell parents about the arrest.
"Thankfully, no students nor staff members were harmed during this incident," the letter said.
It was the 12th incident and the 15th arrest this school year involving weapons at Duval County schools. Of those incidents, 10 involved firearms, one was a starter pistol and one was a Taser.
A gun was also brought to Terry Parker High on Sept. 26.