Middle school student found with loaded gun on campus, deputies say
A 13-year-old was arrested Thursday morning for bringing a loaded gun to school, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 9:18 a.m., school officials at Harllee Middle School received information that Keshaun Davis had a firearm on campus. Deputies found the weapon and a small amount of marijuana in the boy’s backpack. Davis said he found the gun on the side of the road, according to the sheriff’s office.
Davis was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
School spokesman Mike Barber said the student will either be expelled or reassigned, based on federal and state laws laid out in the Manatee County School Code of Student Conduct.
According to the code, students may be placed in a disciplinary program for the duration of their expulsion in order to continue their education, and superintendents have leeway to consider the circumstances surrounding the offense.
In June, another Manatee County middle school student was expelled for bringing a BB gun onto campus.
The investigation is ongoing.
Hannah Morse: 941-745-7055, @mannahhorse
Education reporter Ryan McKinnon contributed to this report.
This story was originally published December 8, 2016 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Middle school student found with loaded gun on campus, deputies say."