MARIETTA, Ga. — Marietta High School principal Marvin J. Crumbs announced that a 15-year-old student was found with a loaded weapon in his backpack Thursday morning.
According to a letter sent to parents by Crumbs, the student told an assistant principal that another student had a gun with them on campus.
The administrator immediately contacted the Marietta Police Department’s School Resource Officer, according to Crumbs’ letter.
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In response to the report, and at the direction of MPD, Marietta High School was placed on what officials called a “hold” to delay class changes, and the student reported to have the gun was detained by MPD in a classroom.
When they searched the backpack, Crumbs said a loaded gun was found inside.
Police confirmed to Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that the student will face two felony charges.
Information released later by the Marietta Police Department revealed the type of weapon found and provided specifics for the charges the teenager faces.
“A loaded Glock 19 handgun was located inside his bookbag,” MPD said. “The student was booked into the Youth Detention Center facing two felony charges: possession of a firearm on school property and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime.”
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Crumbs thanked the other student for doing what they teach at the school: “If you see something, say something.”
He also thanked MPD and school administrators and SROs for working quickly to address the situation.
“Every day we work collaboratively with MPD to make sure that we have the appropriate safety measures for all our MCS schools — we will continue this partnership for the safety of our staff and students,” Crumbs said in the letter.
Crumbs said safety remained a top priority of Marietta High School.
Similar sentiments were shared with Channel 2′s Michael Doudna by Marietta City Schools officials.
“That is exactly what we want to have to happen when these most unfortunate situations occur,” says Marietta City Schools Superintendent Grant Rivera “We teach our kids if they see something, say something. What happened this morning is that a student saw something and immediately reported it to a caring adult.”
Police still don’t know why the teenager brought a loaded gun to campus.
“This could have gone from a calm event to a catastrophe,” Marietta Police public information officer Chuck McPhilamy told Channel 2 Action News. “Really, we can’t say thank you enough to the young individual who reported this to the administration.”
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