CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A student at Northwest High School in Clarksville was taken into custody Tuesday morning after a loaded gun was found in his backpack.
Administration at the school smelled an odor of marijuana on the student and alerted the school resource officer (SRO).
When questioned by the SRO, the student admitted to having marijuana on him. The gun was found when the SRO searched his backpack.
The 14-year-old, ninth grade student was carrying a .380 semi-automatic handgun with two rounds of ammunition loaded in its magazine.
"This incident shows how quickly things can escalate," Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson said. "This should highlight how important it is to notify law enforcement if you suspect something is wrong...I am very thankful the school administrator was there when she was and took the action that she did. This allowed our SRO to prevent a potentially serious incident from occurring either on or off school campus."
The student will be charged with felony weapons on school grounds and simple possession.
