Ridgeway High School student accused of bringing air gun to school
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Ridgeway High School student is out on bond after deputies say he brought an air gun to school.
Caleb Love, 18, is charged with carrying a weapon on school property. His bond was set at $5,000.
Wednesday deputies say they responded to Ridgeway High School regarding a weapon law violation/felony.
One of the deputies said they saw two students wearing all-black backpacks, but the school policy only allows students to have clear backpacks. That is when the deputy called for assistance.
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The principal and another deputy came to help escort the students from their classroom to the office with their black backpacks.
Reports state that the deputy found an air gun (Novritsch 9mm) with a 22-round extended magazine in one of the student’s, later identified as Caleb Love, backpack.
The weapon was not reported stolen. Love’s parents then came to the school after being notified.
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Love was supposed to make his first appearance in court on Thursday. However, after seeing WREG’s camera, Love’s mother asked Love’s lawyer to waive his formal arraignment.
WREG attempted to speak with Love’s mother. She responded, “I do not want my son on the news. Ma’am, you can’t control that. Don’t take a picture of me, please.”
Leslie Ballin, Love’s attorney, said, “The statute that prohibits the use of firearms, knives, and explosives on school grounds – it says weapons of like kind. It does specifically include an aerosol pistol but it may cover this type of item.”
It is still unclear of Love’s intentions.
“I am not going to get into what his intentions were or whether or not he acknowledges the accusations are correct or incorrect,” said Ballin.
According to Tennessee’s Annual Safe School Reports, more assaults, more guns, and more bomb threats are being reported inside Tennessee’s schools. The report shows the number of serious incidents reported last school year hit a five-year high.
In Memphis, 1,244 serious incidents were reported across 153 schools, five of those came from Ridgeway High School.
“Where are we in our community,” asked Ballin. “Too many guns– youngsters, older people what the heck? Let’s get it right. It starts at home.”
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We reached out to MSCS for a statement on this matter but they have yet to respond.
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