Hamilton County SRO Arrests Student for Bringing a Loaded BB Gun to School

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says a 16-year-old Central High School student brought a loaded BB gun to school.

Earlier this morning, a student at a different school saw a video on a social media site. The student reported the video to the SRO of that school due to the content of what was contained.

The information was then relayed to Central High School's SRO.

When the student was approached by administration and HCSO personnel, the weapon was found.

The weapon in question (pictured) was identified as a BB gun. Hamilton County Sheriff's Office spokesman Matt Lea says it is important to note that these type of items are traditionally not chargeable as weapons at a school due to the fact they are not an actual firearm, unless the situation includes the item being displayed in a manner that is threatening or causes alarm. Lea says this incident met that criteria and an arrest was made.

The SRO arrested the 16-year-old boy, and he was taken to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention facility for the charge of possessing a weapon on school property.

This wasn't the only incident that caused concern for students and parents in Hamilton County in recent days.

At East Ridge Middle/High, there was a bomb threat.

ERPD spokesman Tim Mullinax tells NewsChannel 9 in an e-mail, "East Ridge Middle School received a bomb threat in the form of graffiti written on a bathroom wall. The Chattanooga Bomb Squad was called by ERPD. The bomb squad cleared the cafeteria and gym and the students were evacuated to those areas while the bomb squad cleared the remaining areas of the school. Nothing was found and students were returned to class on their regular schedule."

Another incident happened on Signal Mountain last week:

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It also comes a day after a threat at Ooltewah High School was supposed to be carried out. Nothing happened, though, even though many students stayed away from school.