Loaded firearm found in student's locker Monday at Branson Junior High School

Parents and school employees in the Branson district were notified Monday afternoon that a loaded firearm was found on a school campus.

No injuries were reported.

In a statement from Superintendent Brad Swofford, the district said Branson Junior High administrators received a tip that a student was in possession of a weapon at school.

He said safety protocols were immediately activated as school police and administrators responded, removed the student in question from a classroom and located a firearm in the student's locker.

Swofford said the confiscated weapon was loaded but no other details about it were released.

The student was placed in police custody. No details about the student were released.

"Please be assured that we are taking the appropriate measures to address the disciplinary consequences of the situation, in accordance with school policy," Swofford said, in the statement.

In nearly all public schools in Missouri, a student who allegedly brings a firearm on a school campus faces an automatic out-of-school suspension, which is typically followed by a hearing to determine if the student will be expelled.

In November, school officials in two area districts — Springfield's Glendale High School and the elemiddle building in Clever — reported finding loaded firearms. There were no injuries in either situation.

The firearm in Clever was found in a locker and in Springfield was found concealed in the clothing of a student sitting in a classroom.

"We would like to thank the students who reported this possible threat, allowing our administration to intervene quickly," Swofford wrote. "Branson Public Schools is a weapons-free district and we have zero tolerance for the possession of any weapon on campus."

In the statement, Swofford encouraged parents to talk about school safety with their children and report any suspicious or potentially threatening activity quickly to an adult. Missouri's Courage2Report hotline is 866-748-7047.

This month, Branson announced it was doubling the number of officers working in its schools — ensuring there will be at least one present on each campus.

Branson school officials announced Monday that the district has hired four school protection officers, or SPOs, and they will work alongside the four existing school resource officers, or SROs.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Loaded firearm found in student's locker Monday at Branson Junior High