Anne Arundel County police arrested a 16-year-old Old Mill HighSchool student who allegedly brought a loaded 9 mm handgun to school Wednesday.
Davon Odems, of the 1700 block of Barnwood Court in Severn, has been charged as an adult with possession of a concealed deadly weapon on school property, possession of a handgun and carrying a concealed deadly weapon.
Odems reportedly told police he was carrying the gun for protection against another student.
The incident comes a day after Baltimore County police arrested a 16-year-old high school who allegedly shot two other students with a BB gun Tuesday.
In the Anne Arundel case, all three charges are misdemeanors; the punishments range from $1,000 to $2,500 in fines and 90 days to three years of incarceration.
According to the Maryland Department of Education, 1,816 students were suspended for bringing weapons to school in the state during the 2004-05 school year.
In the same year in Anne Arundel County, there were 259 weapons-related suspensions. Six of those suspensions were for firearms, 60 were for other guns and 193 were for other weapons.
A teacher at Old Mill High School reportedly overheard students saying Odems had a handgun. Administrators called the school?s safety resource officer, Bill Davis, who found a loaded 9 mm handgun lying in the bottom of the Odem?s book bag, officials said.
Tony Ruffin, spokesman for Anne Arundel County Schools, said Odems will “more than likely be processed at the highest level,” which could be expulsion.
“Anything that involves the safety and security of our students, we take seriously,” Ruffin said.
Ruffin said the school issued a letter to parents about the incident.
“It?s a teachable moment,” he said. “We want to remind our parents that it?s an opportunity to have a conversation with their children.”
