A Columbia teen was arrested Monday and charged with bringing a handgun and ammunition to the Homewood Center, a school for troubled youth in Ellicott City, Howard police said Tuesday.
A school resource officer found the unloaded handgun and ammunition in the 15-year-old student’s coat pocket after a teacher reported his suspicious behavior to school administrators Monday afternoon, police said.
Howard police said no one was injured or threatened, and the situation was handled without having to evacuate the students, faculty and staff.
“Everybody at the school did a great job in making sure it was taken care of quickly,” said Patti Caplan, the school system spokeswoman.
“It doesn’t appear that there was any threat to students.”
Caplan said the incident was the first time a student brought a handgun to the school, which is “a countywide alternative educational program for students in need of intensive academic and behavioral instruction and support,” according to the school system Web site.
During the 2007-08 school year, 74 students in Howard public schools were suspended for weapons offenses, according to the Maryland Department of Education.
Of those offenses, 13 involved guns that weren’t considered firearms, and the remaining 61 involved weapons other than guns, according to the department.
A firearm hasn’t been found on Howard public school property since June 2007, when a 15-year-old boy brought a loaded semiautomatic pistol and ammunition to Hammond High School in Columbia, Caplan said.
Because of confidentiality rules, Caplan said she couldn’t discuss the Homewood student’s discipline record.
Police said the teen was turned over to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and charged as a juvenile with possessing a concealed deadly weapon on school property, resisting arrest, disturbing school operations, failing to obey a lawful order and reckless endangerment.
A letter was sent home with Homewood students Tuesday notifying parents of the incident, Caplan said.
