Two teens accused of having a gun at Hancock High now face youth court
HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - Two Hancock High School students accused of bringing a gun on campus Wednesday now face youth court and disciplinary action from the school.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story used the word “arrested” but that is not completely correct. Since this case involves juveniles and youth court, the teens have been referred to youth court and the judge there will determine the charges.
Hancock County Sheriff Ricky Adam said the gun was reported to authorities Wednesday night, after the school day was finished. Someone saw a video posted to social media of two boys, ages 14 and 16, showing off the gun at school.
Investigators made contact with the boys’ families and recovered the weapon, which was not loaded at that time. It’s unknown if the gun was loaded while on campus.
The families have been cooperating with officials.
Around 6:40 Thursday morning, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department notified the school district about its investigation. About two hours later, school officials sent out a text to all Hancock Middle and Hancock High parents, informing them it was “reported after school hours that a student at Hancock High School brought a handgun to school” Wednesday.
Hancock County Schools Superintendent Rhett Ladner told WLOX News the people who reported the social video to authorities did the right thing.
“We do encourage parents and families to talk to their children, if there’s something that happens or that they’ve seen, to immediately inform the principal or school administrator or teacher, an adult on campus, of what they’ve seen so we can act quickly,” Ladner said. “Our number one priority is to protect our children. They are our number one asset. They’re our most prized resource, and we want to protect them any way we can.”
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