Arrests.
Towamencin Police were notified of the weapon from a neighboring police department
A 16-year-old male student is facing felony charges by Towamencin Police for allegedly bringing a 9mm handgun with him to North Penn High School on Tuesday.
Police said Wednesday morning the juvenile male was charged with felony counts of possession of a firearm with an altered serial number and possession of a firearm by an unlicensed person, as well as misdemeanor possession of a weapon on school property and possession of a firearm by a minor.
There will be an increased presence at the high school on Wednesday, as an abundance of caution, Chief Timothy Troxel said Tuesday night.
On Tuesday, at 11 a.m., Towamencin Police Department received notification from North Penn High School that there may be a student in possession of a firearm at the school.
The information that the student may have a handgun was developed by another local police department during their investigation into the student for a different criminal offense that occurred in their jurisdiction, police said.
When officers arrived at the high school, security personnel already had the student in the security office, and was found to be in possession of a 9mm handgun in the school, police said.
The student was placed into custody by the police and escorted from the school.
Police did not release the name of the student, as he is a minor.
The Montgomery County Office of Juvenile Probation was advised of the criminal charges and approved detention of the juvenile, who was booked on the above criminal charges and transported to the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center, where he remains in custody pending further court proceedings, police said.
This incident remains under investigation, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the police department.
Furthermore, the school will use its Evolv Weapons Detection System on Wednesday, which uses artificial intelligence and sensors to detect potential weapons on individuals as they enter the building, according to the email.
It is unclear if the detection system was in use on Tuesday.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” Principal Kyle Hassler wrote in the email notification to North Penn High School families. “We are deeply concerned by this incident and are cooperating fully with police as they conduct their investigation.”
The email notification of the arrest and incident was sent to North Penn High School families only, per district policy. Parents released fervor online over the lack of notification by the district to all families, as elementary and middle school students either visit the planetarium on field trips or attend for school activities.
Hassler said appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with school code and law.
In an email statement Wednesday morning, North Penn School District said that security and administration were informed of the student with a weapon in school.
“This information was learned by the police as a result of an investigation regarding a non-school-related incident in the community,” the district said, adding there was no report of a direct threat to anyone at the high school.
"Possession of a weapon on school property is extremely serious and will result in criminal charges and serious school consequences, up to an expulsion. We do want to reiterate that we have additional law enforcement and security presence at the building this morning, and we are utilizing the Evolv Weapons Detection System as a precautionary measure," the statement said.
The district encouraged students and families to report any additional information to the police or concerns directly to Hassler, a trusted adult, or via the anonymous Safe2Say tipline.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
