A Lincoln High School student was arrested Monday morning on the school’s campus after a loaded handgun was discovered in the 17-year-old’s parked car.
“The student was questioned and admitted that he had a handgun in his automobile which was parked on campus,” Lincoln Principal Allen Burch wrote in an Aug. 25 email to parents.
The latest arrest for weapons on campus comes after school administrators received a tip about the student. Burch added that the 12th grader was questioned by the Tallahassee Police Department over the weekend about the possession of ammunition.
Before entering the school building Monday, “administrators notified the student that they would be conducting an administrative search of the student’s vehicle at which time the student told administrators he had a firearm inside the vehicle,” according to an afternoon update from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
A loaded Ruger .380 handgun was found inside the vehicle, according to LCSO.
“A School Resource Deputy assumed the investigation and the student was placed under arrest,” LCSO said.
The student is charged with Possession of a Firearm on School Campus and was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.
“We appreciate the quick response of our resource officers to secure the handgun,” Burch said. “We take all reports seriously and will continue to be vigilant about our campus safety.”
The weapons incident marks the third for the district since school started, with two weapon-related arrests on Friday, Aug. 22.
A 15-year-old Godby High School 9th grader was arrested for possessing an unloaded firearm on campus, though he had ammunition in his bookbag.
In a separate incident that same day, a 17-year-old student at Rickards High School was arrested after school administrators received an anonymous tip that she was carrying weapons on campus, according to LCSO.
Authorities found her in possession of a taser and a canister of pepper spray. She said they were for “self-defense,” but both items are classified as weapons under Florida law when brought onto school property.
The district has a zero tolerance policy against drugs, weapons and threats to harm others on its campuses. During the 2024-25 school year, there were at least 17 arrests on school campuses, with ten of them dealing with weapons on campus ranging from loaded guns to a hatchet to a razor blade kit.
In a statement, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of proactive communication between parents and students.
“Parents and guardians are urged to have open and candid discussions with their children regarding the importance of adhering to the district’s zero-tolerance policy for weapons and drugs on campus,” the release stated. “Ensuring that students understand the gravity of this matter and the potential consequences is vital in maintaining a safe and secure school environment.”
The Sheriff’s Office also encouraged the use of the FortifyFL app for anonymously reporting suspicious activity related to Leon County Schools. Tips can also be submitted by calling 850-922-KIDS.
Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lincoln High School student detained on campus with handgun in car
Reporting by Alaijah Brown, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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