GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The 15-year-old boy accused of taking a loaded handgun to Ottawa Hills High School this week is now facing charges.
When a student was entering the school in the morning, the metal detector alarm sounded off as the student passed through.
GRPS said public safety officers on watch at the entrance searched the 15-year-old boy's bag and found a loaded handgun.
Grand Rapids Police were called, and officers arrested the student, GRPS said.
The Kent County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday the teen is facing one count of carrying a concealed weapon, and one count of weapons-free school zone violation. Both are felonies.
He's also charged with minor in possession of marijuana, which is a misdemeanor charge.
Since the boy is not an adult, the Kent County Prosecutor's Office won't share more details about the case.
“It is disheartening to hear that guns are winding up in the hands of our young people as we all know the devastating consequences that can and have come as a result,” Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby said. “I’m proud that the systems we have in place to protect our scholars and staff worked and that this gun never made it into our hallways. But my concern for our children extends beyond the walls of our schools. We cannot tolerate our children having this type of access to guns. It’s unacceptable.”
Backpacks were removed from schools at the end of the 2022-23 school year following four incidents where guns were confiscated from students. The backpack ban was met with opposition from the community and the district said they listened to their concerns.
In the wake of those incidents, the school heightened screenings, training, weapons detectors and prevention programming among other things.
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