MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Police said a student at White Station High School has been charged after a gun was found on campus Thursday morning.
Memphis-Shelby County School officials said the school was placed on a precautionary lockdown and officers were called after a student told administrators about another student who was armed.
Memphis police said they recovered a loaded gun, but we’re told it was not found on the student. Details on where it was located have not been released.
Investigators said there were no reports of injuries or any shots fired.
MSCS said the student reportedly brought the weapon for protection to and from school.
MSCS said there were no threats made against other students or staff. They said a search of the school was conducted.
“MSCS Security and school administration followed District protocols and procedures as we continue to prioritize the safety of students. We appreciate the swift action of our security team that quickly addressed the matter,” a statement from MSCS said.
MSCS said White Station High conducts daily random walk-through and wand metal detection. They said families were notified about the incident through robocall and text.
A second statement referenced the tip from the student, saying, "We believe this tip reflects a culture of trust between students and adults. We often remind students: 'If you see something, say something. Text tips by sending 'SCS' to 274637."
Parents picked up their children early from school and felt unsettled after the alert and lockdown, considering it happened just two days after a massacre inside a Texas elementary school.
"I was at my office, got the voice message, that they were on lockdown and you know, obviously, all of those things start to flood through your mind. You think about Buffalo. You think about what happened in Texas, and you pray that it doesn't happen in Memphis," Mike Arnold said.
"We need to figure out a way to stop this from happening. We need to find the cause of why kids feel like they need to bring guns to school," Christina Andrews added.
According to an open records request made by ABC24 this past fall, between January 2020 and November 2021, MSCS reported 17 guns found on school grounds. That included one recovered last August at White Station High School.
Police said the student, 16, was taken to Juvenile Court and is charged with carrying a weapon with intent on school property, possession of a handgun by a juvenile, unlawful possession of a weapon and theft of property $1,000-2,500 to wit: handgun.