THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 7, 1995 TAG: 9504070505
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
School officials confiscated a loaded .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol from a 16-year-old high school student early Thursday.
The ninth-grader at Ocean Lakes High School was carrying the handgun in a book bag, police spokesman Lou Thurston said.
School administrators were tipped that the student had a gun and summoned him to the office, Thurston said. The gun was found in the backpack about 7:30 a.m. The student's name was not released because of his age.
This is at least the 12th time since classes began in September that a gun carried onto school property has led to police action.
More guns have been removed from Virginia Beach school property this year than from schools in any other South Hampton Roads city.
Most of the guns have been found in the 4th Precinct, where a specialized squad of police officers patrols the parking lots of the public high schools - Salem, Kempsville, Green Run and Tallwood - looking for truants and guns.
Most of the guns have been found before they were taken inside the school buildings. No students have been injured this year by guns at school.
The Ocean Lakes student has been suspended and could be expelled. He also could be charged with a felony for taking the weapon onto school property.
Thurston said police will review the case with representatives of the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to determine if charges should be lodged. by CNB