A 17-year-old Waverly High School student was cited Tuesday after a loaded .22 Ruger handgun was found in his vehicle in the school parking lot. Chief Deputy Ben Houchin says the gun was found by school administrators following an incident where some boys were playing around with a toy gun that shoots water pellets in the parking lot.
Houchin says one of the students reported being harassed, which led to the search. “Deputies found no evidence that the student had possessed a handgun to do any harm or target anyone.” He says the student said he used the gun for hunting the night before and 60 rounds of ammunition were also found in the vehicle.
The student was cited for felony possession of a firearm on school grounds, minor in possession of a handgun, criminal mischief and disturbing the peace. He was released to his parents. “I’m just happy it was found. It’s a big deal, especially in this day an age. Having a gun at school is a big no-no.”
Houchin says the teen’s parents were unaware he had the gun.