Student caught with loaded gun on school bus, Richland County sheriff says
An 18-year-old was arrested Monday morning when the student was caught with a loaded gun on a school bus heading to a South Carolina high school, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Kelvin Figueroa was charged with carrying weapon on school property, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
Deputies were alerted about the situation on the bus heading to Blythewood High School when another student texted 911 communications, according to the release. According to the other student’s text, Figueroa was in possession of a gun, the sheriff’s department said.
School resource officers at Blythewood High School, as well as other deputies, located and intercepted the school bus as it arrived on the Richland 2 school’s campus at 10901 Wilson Blvd., according to the release. Deputies immediately detained Figueroa and a loaded pistol was found in a search of his bag, the sheriff’s department said.
Information about where the teen got the pistol was not available, but the gun was not reported stolen, according to the release.
There was no indication the Figueroa either pointed the gun at anyone or threatened to shoot the weapon.
No injuries were reported.
Figueroa was taken into custody and he was booked into Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, the sheriff’s department said. No bond has been set for the teen, who remains locked up, jail records show.
There was no word if Figueroa will face any punishment from Blythewood High or the school district.
Sheriff Leon Lott commended the student who sent the text about the gun.
“I want to recognize the student who texted 911,” Lott said in the release. “That took courage, and it made a difference. Because of that student, we were able to intervene immediately and prevent a potentially dangerous situation.”
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