Student charged after stolen gun found at Rome High School

ROME, Ga. — Police arrested a 15-year-old student at Rome High School after they were found with a loaded and stolen gun.

On Wednesday, someone alerted school resource officers that a classmate had a gun. The officers took that student to the front office to search their items.

Police said they found the loaded pistol in the student’s backpack.

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Rome police said the gun’s description matched one that had been stolen from a car off 2nd Avenue.

Officials charged the student with possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm on the school campus. Police have not released the name or age of the student.

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This is the third gun that has been confiscated on Rome High School’s campus this year.

Channel 2 Action News previously reported in August that two guns were found within the first week of school.

School administrators say the first student brought a gun to school on Aug. 3, but they were immediately notified and the student was questioned. The district reported the next day on Aug. 4 that a second student had brought a gun to Rome High School.

In both cases, the guns were not used to threaten anyone.

The Rome City School Board later approved a student search policy and mandatory bag check at school entrance. The district also purchased a weapon screening system. It is expected to be installed in November.

Parents told Channel 2′s Elizabeth Rawlins the district’s efforts thus far aren’t enough.

“Something is clearly not enough. They shouldn’t have brought the guns to school, it’s scary,” Rachel Manning said.

Channel 2 received the following statement from the district on Friday:

“Evolv provides a secure and seamless weapon screening experience, making it possible for venues of all kinds to help keep visitors safe from concealed weapons, public health threats and intruders. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors can pass through the Evolv Weapons-Screening System as they enter facilities without stopping, emptying their pockets or bag, or waiting in line. The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is our number one concern and we will continue to assess all safety and security concerns.

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Rome Board of Education holding special meeting after guns found in school twice during first week Students were found with guns at Rome High School two days in a row.

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