TOCCOA, Ga. — A 16-year-old student was taken into custody Monday morning after the weapons detection system at Stephens County High School alerted staff to a loaded pistol inside his backpack, officials said.
School administrators and on-site School Resource Officers responded immediately. The student was detained without incident, and the gun, which was later determined to be stolen, was secured before any threat could develop, according to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s investigators were called to the school and transported the teen to the nearest Regional Youth Detention Center. The student is charged with multiple felonies, including theft by receiving stolen property, carrying weapons on school property, and possession of a handgun by a person under 18. Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office said.
Stephens County School Superintendent Dr. Connie Franklin said the school’s safety measures worked exactly as designed.
“The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Incidents like this reinforce the importance of our safety measures — especially our weapons detection system — which worked exactly as intended this morning,” Franklin said.
Authorities have not released the student’s name.
District officials thanked administrators, SROs, and the sheriff’s office for their rapid response. They also encouraged families to speak with students about reporting concerns and never bringing prohibited items to campus.
