A teenager who brought a handgun onto a school bus last month is in custody, authorities in Florida say.
Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhaus announced at a press conference Thursday that a 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with reports of a gun being fired on a school bus and at Springstead High School on Jan. 12.
Neenhaus said the campus’ school resource officer was notified by students of a shooting on campus four days ago, on Jan. 16.
Law enforcement officials began reviewing surveillance footage from the bus and the school and discovered that the boy had a handgun on the bus and appeared to display it to other passengers.
Florida bank robber holds two hostages at knifepoint, killed by sniper during standoff: sheriff
A 16-year-old boy from Hernando County, Florida, is in custody after authorities say he brought a gun onto a school bus and displayed it to other passengers. (Hernando County Sheriff’s Office)
Ninehouse also shared that the Sheriff’s Office actually encountered the boy on January 12 at approximately 11:30 p.m. while investigating a stolen vehicle at Mariner’s Cay Apartments. When approached by officers, the boy allegedly shoved one of them and fled on foot, before eventually getting into a car and crashing it on Mariner Boulevard.
Investigators working to confirm whether the gun seen on bus surveillance footage was real and functional learned that a 17-year-old boy was injured in an accidental shooting on January 31st. . Nienhuis said he brought the gun to the school, which had markings similar to those seen on the surveillance footage.
The sheriff’s office also said the gun was in the possession of multiple people from the day it was on the school bus to the day it was used in the shooting.
“We’re obviously concerned that it may have been stolen,” Nienhuis said of the gun in question, adding that the department is still trying to figure out where it came from.
Florida man arrested after crossing crime scene tape at plane crash scene, claiming to be medical worker
During the press conference, the sheriff praised the students who came forward and reported the presence of weapons on campus, but stressed the importance of coming forward immediately instead of waiting several days.
Nienhaus said the shooting of the 17-year-old, who she described as a “good student” who had never been in trouble, could have been prevented if authorities had been alerted to the gun sooner. .
“He is now the victim of a gunshot wound because of the gun that was handed to him,” the sheriff said. “Importantly, when something like this happens, students need to come forward and let us know.”
The gun seen on school bus surveillance footage was also used in another accidental shooting nearly two weeks later. (Hernando County Sheriff’s Office)
Hernando School District Superintendent John Stratton also addressed the incident at a press conference, adding that the use of weapons on campus “will not be tolerated.”
“If you bring a weapon onto our campus or property, you may be expelled and arrested in the process,” Stratton said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday and charged with possessing or discharging a weapon or firearm at a school-sponsored event or on school property. He was transported to the Ocala Juvenile Justice Department and remains in custody.
