The student, a 12-year-old seventh-grade boy, was arrested after being found with an unloaded .22-caliber handgun. He was charged with felony possession of a gun on school property.
A classmate spotted the weapon during the second class of the day at the school in Hickory Flat and reported it to school authorities. Ammunition for the gun later was found in the student's locker.
The student had not made any threats of violence, said Mike McGowan, director of public information, communications and partnerships for the Cherokee County School District.
No "hit list" was found nor was any other evidence that indicated the student had planned to harm anyone at the school, McGowan added.
"We're still investigating, so we don't know the reason yet," McGowan said. "He obviously made a stupid mistake."
The student, whose name is not being released as he is a juvenile, faces criminal charges as well as disciplinary action by the school district.
Principal Dr. Adrian Thomason sent a letter home to parents of all students at the school detailing what happened.
"Please know that the administration of Dean Rusk Middle School takes the safety and security of our students and staff very seriously," he wrote in the letter.
Thomason asked parents to talk with their children and remind them that no weapons of any kind are allowed on campus per district policy and state law.
Students also need to remember, he said, that it is "imperative" they share all concerns about safety with staff at the school.
Don't blame "the schools" for your childs failure to understand proper behavior and respect.
If parents don't demand good behavior from their children don't expect the schools to do your job for you.
Be a responsible parent.
We can’t prevent a kid from leaving home with a weapon but we can prevent it from entering the school.
I’ll bet some Columbine parents wish that school had better security.
Maybe the PTA could do a fundraiser for improving security rather than buying flowers and picnic tables.
As to the question of metal detectors: horsesqeeze- these kids should be afford every effort to insure weapons aren't in schools, but with abs plasitcs any kid can walk around with a knife type object that never detected. Jail the parents of the kids for child endangerment. Send that message enough times and weapons suddenly get locked into safes.
DRMS needs metal detectors and card key locks.
Why should only the new schools have adequate security?