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Baltimore Student Arrested After Officials Find Gun, Drugs In His Backpack

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Baltimore high school student has been arrested after he brought drugs and a weapon to school, officials say.

An unloaded gun was found in the backpack of a City Neighbors High School student Monday.

The school has a stellar reputation, but during regular after-school rounds, Principal Cheyanne Zahrt and the vice principal had to answer questions about marijuana and a gun.

A student's mother praised the school's leadership.

"I think that's just a rare situation, and I think the city needs to support these schools just a little bit more. I don't blame the staff here or the school. I think it's a great school,"said mother Stacie Locust.

"I hadn't gotten the email or the text message, so I was kind of nervous. That's why I called my daughter because she gets the emails from the school," one mother said.

This is the fourth time a Baltimore City student has been tied to bringing a gun to school in this school year alone.

The first was last fall and back in January, officials say two students brought loaded guns to separate schools.

After the shooting in Florida, people across the country -- and here in Maryland -- are having discussions about school safety.

Sgt. Clyde Boatwright, the head of Baltimore City schools police department, says his resource officers are not allowed to carry weapons on campus.

 

He wants for that to change.

"At this time, we need to have our weapons on at all times. That's what we need. We need for the powers that be to not bury their heads in the sand and think that it won't happen in Baltimore," Sgt. Boatwright said.

 

He added the student was taken into custody without incident and no injuries were reported.

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