Handgun found in student’s backpack at Lexington County school

A 16-year-old student was arrested after he was found with a handgun at Brookland-Cayce High School on Tuesday, according to police.

The student was taken into custody just after 1 p.m., when a handgun was found in his backpack, the Cayce Department of Public Safety said in a Facebook post. The weapon was found in the backpack during an investigation into stolen property at the school.

No threats were made against the school, students or faculty, and it appears the student brought the gun to school accidentally, police say.

The student, who is not being identified because of his age, has been cooperative with school administrators and the school resource officer, police said. He was taken to the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $1,000 fine or both, under South Carolina law.