Brass Knuckles Smuggled In By Student, Used In Attack On Perry Hall Football Player

PERRY HALL, Md. (WJZ) -- It's happened again. There's been another alarming incident where a weapon got inside Perry Hall High School, despite new security procedures following a shooting on the first day of class.

Meghan McCorkell has more on this latest security breach.

This time, it's brass knuckles that were used in an attack inside the school. The metal weapon can inflict major damage.

A Perry Hall High School football player says he was walking out of the cafeteria when he was suddenly attacked by a student wearing brass knuckles.

"Next thing you know, I turn my head slightly...and he hit me," said high school senior Eric Latham.

Latham sustained injuries to his face and head as he defended himself.

"They need to beef up security because that should have never happened," said Latham's grandmother, Valerie Conway Hudson.

School officials have increased security after they say 15-year-old Robert Gladden brought a shotgun to school on the first day and opened fire in the cafeteria, shooting 17-year-old Daniel Borowy.

Metal detecting wands have been given to school resource officers across the county but this latest incident has parents worried the wands may not be enough.

"It's scary. You just have to watch your kids," said one parent.

"I hate to say that we're going to go that direction but I think metal detectors, unfortunately, is the way to go to protect the kids," said parent Stan Snader.

The child who brought in the brass knuckles has been charged by county police with assault. Both he and Latham are now suspended from school.

School officials say appropriate disciplinary action was taken against both students involved in the fight, but family members say the incident shows a clear loophole in school security.

"If this kid can get brass knuckles in school, it's easy to get in another gun," Hudson said.

Now they want more action taken.

Right now, school resource officers use the metal detecting wands only if they suspect another crime is about to occur.

County officials have increased the number of resource officers inside schools in the wake of the shooting.