Student arrested for carrying gun at Columbia middle school

A 14-year-old juvenile was arrested Monday, May 23 at W.G. Sanders Middle School after it was reported he had a gun in his backpack, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday.

Sheriff Leon Lott said the student was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, possession of a weapon under the age of 18, and unlawful carrying of a weapon, after a school resource officer found the gun just before 1 p.m.. The school is at 3455 Pine Belt Road in Columbia.

The arrest came after an earlier incident when the student’s parent notified the sheriff’s department gang investigators that he located a handgun in his son’s backpack just before school. The sheriff said investigators immediately retrieved the handgun from the home of the parent and son.

When investigators discovered the juvenile had another handgun on school grounds they notified the school resource office and school administration and the handgun was immediately located.

Lott credited the parent for inspecting his son’s backpack regularly and notifying law enforcement he found a weapon.