LCSO confiscates loaded gun, drugs found on Tallahassee high school campus

Ana Goñi-Lessan, Tallahassee Democrat
·3 min read

A weapon and drugs were found in a car parked on a Tallahassee high school campus Tuesday morning.

Michael Bryan, principal of Leon High School, said Leon County sheriff's deputies confiscated the loaded gun and drugs "quickly without risk to students or staff," in an email sent to parents at 9:45 a.m.

An LCSO school resource deputy was patrolling the parking lot when he noticed an unoccupied car running, according to an LCSO press release.

The deputy located and spoke to the driver, a Leon student, and asked him to turn the car off. The deputy said he smelled marijuana when the student opened the door to turn the car off, which prompted a probable cause search of the car. In the car, law enforcement found a little over three ounces of marijuana, clear plastic bags, a scale and a loaded Glock 33 handgun with a bullet in the chamber, according to LCSO.

The student was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, possession of marijuana over 20 grams and possession of a firearm by a delinquent.

This is at least the sixth incident of a weapon found on school grounds since the beginning of the school year and the second weapon found on the Leon High School campus in 2023.

'Kids are really struggling': Baker Acts continue to rise among Leon County's children

Previously: District announces safety measures, will use handheld metal detectors, dog in 2023

Superintendent: 'All options are on the table' to address issue of guns on campus

According to the Leon County School District code of conduct, the discipline for possession of a weapon on campus is expulsion.

LCS Superintendent Rocky Hanna plans to meet with State Attorney Jack Campbell Tuesday afternoon to discuss the recent string of weapons found on school campuses.

The district's safety and security office has recently conducted surprise searches of middle and high schools to deter students from bringing weapons to campus. The district brings handheld metal detectors and a weapon-sniffing dog, named Stassi, who is trained to report the presence of firearms, including bullets.

Other recent cases of guns on Leon County school grounds

  • In February, a Fairview Middle School student brought a loaded a Smith & Wesson 9mm to school. The student said he took it from a family member's home.

  • In January, LCSO arrested 17-year-old Leon High School student for allegedly bringing a stolen Glock 48 handgun to school campus.

  • In October, a Godby High School student was arrested after being caught with loaded gun on campus.

  • In early September, another Godby student was arrested after he was caught with a loaded 9mm handgun and marijuana in his backpack. Days later, a 17-year-old Leon High School student was arrested after a loaded handgun was found in his backpack.

  • And in late August, a Leon County school resource deputy arrested a 14-year-old, who had a loaded gun in his jacket during a Friday night football game between Lincoln and Godby at Gene Cox Stadium.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Weapon, drugs found on Leon County high school campus