Gun found at River Oaks Middle School in Wake County; juvenile faces charges

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A middle school student in Wake County brought a gun to school Thursday.

The unloaded gun was found in the River Oaks Middle School gymnasium.

The discovery came after a Wake County school resource officer got a tip about a student appearing to have a weapon on a school bus. Deputies, including a K-9, and school staffers searched the campus and eventually found the gun.

"That's a very scary situation because if nobody would have spoken up, we would have never known it was there," said Capt. Rebe Mosley-Bobbitt, captain of school resource officers. "And the weapon could have potentially or probably would have ended up back on the street and in the hands of juveniles again. So it's a very scary situation."

The juvenile who brought the weapon to school will be charged, the Wake County Sheriff's Office said. State law also calls for a 365-day suspension of any student found with a weapon on a school campus.

"Bringing a weapon onto school grounds is not only illegal but a serious threat," Sheriff Willie Rowe said. "The safety of our schools relies on everyone staying alert and proactive. We encourage students who notice something concerning to not hesitate to speak up - whether to a trusted adult, one of our SROs, or through the WCPSS anonymous tip line."

The school entered a Code Yellow lockdown, River Oaks Middle Principal Courtney Blake said. During a code yellow lockdown, all students return to and remain inside the building. Activities inside the school continue as normal.

The school said the lockdown was lifted at 12:55 p.m.

"Bringing a weapon to school is a very serious offense," Blake wrote in a letter to parents. "While we cannot share information regarding disciplinary action for an individual student, know that state law requires a 365-day suspension of any student in possession of a firearm."

The sheriff's office said all students were safe and there was no known threat.

Part of the ongoing investigation will focus on how the student was able to get hold of a gun. Mosley-Bobbit said the owner of the firearm could also face charges.

"We take them very seriously because this weapon or any weapon can get in the hands of any juvenile," Mosley-Bobbitt said. "We didn't know that the weapon was unloaded or we don't know whether the weapon is loaded or unloaded until we come in contact with it. There is state law that if a juvenile comes in contact with the gun on school campus, then it is an automatic 365-day suspension. But also the parent of the juvenile or whoever the gun belongs to can also potentially be charged as well."

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