Teen arrested after 3 guns, ammo found in backpack at school
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A teen was arrested and charged after weapons were found in a backpack at Raleigh Egypt High School Monday morning, police say.
According to reports, officers responded to the high school at 9:40 a.m. A backpack containing three loaded handguns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition was located in the bushes near the dumpster.
Police say a 17-year-old was seen on camera leaving the backpack in the bushes around 9:12 a.m. A security officer told police that the student brought the guns to school for a senior student and that there was a plan to sell marijuana to people and rob them.
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However, the cleaning lady found the backpack just two hours into the school day.
Along with the three loaded guns, 78 .40 caliber rounds, an empty handgun magazine, and a handgun magazine loaded with 9 .357 caliber rounds were found in the backpack.
One of the guns was reported stolen out of Ripley, Tenn., police say.
“Something horrible could’ve happened so I’m glad people said something. This is what we want people to do. If they see something say something so stuff like this can be preventable,” said Denair Love, a high school worker.
Love also says initially students did not know what was happening outside but were shocked when they were notified.
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“We went on lockdown, the admin team they took precautions to keep the students safe,” Love said. “It’s the parents who are not taking control of their house. It’s not the school it’s the parents who they are growing up with. They need to know what’s in their house and what kids have in possession so stuff like this doesn’t happen.”
The teen was arrested and transported to juvenile detention. He was charged with carrying a weapon on school property, theft of property to wit firearm, and unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon.
WREG has reached out to Memphis Shelby County Schools multiple times for more details on if parents were notified and if the 17-year-old was a Raleigh Egypt High School student, but did not receive a response.
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