Teen brought loaded gun to school, then shot a video holding it, NC sheriff says

A 16-year-old student at Holton Career and Resource Center has been charged with bringing a loaded, stolen gun to school Wednesday.

It was the second reported incident of a student bringing a gun to school or onto a school bus in the Triangle this week.

School resource officers at Holton learned the student had made a video of himself holding the gun at the school on North Driver Street, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday night.

They identified and searched the student and found he had a stolen handgun with an extended magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition. Hollow point bullets are known for causing extensive damage to soft tissues and larger wounds, according to the Wiley Online Library.

The 16-year-old, whose name has not been released because of his age, has been charged with:

  • possession of a weapon on educational property

  • possession of a stolen firearm

  • carrying a concealed weapon

  • resist, delay and obstruct arrest

  • possession of a weapon by a minor

He was being held in secure custody Wednesday night.

“We are grateful to the individual who brought this to our attention,” Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said in a news release. “We encourage the entire Durham Public Schools community to remain vigilant regarding potential violence on our campuses. If you see something, say something by telling a trusted adult, our SROs, or by utilizing the tip line.”

The confidential hotline number is 919-560-7151.

5 things we learned about rising gun thefts in the Triangle and NC

Guns stolen from cars

Last year the Durham County Sheriff’s Office seized 262 firearms, according to a news release. There were 34 guns reported stolen and 17 guns recovered or found.

These numbers do not include gun handled by the Durham Police Department.

Both Birkhead and Police Chief Patrice Andrews, however, have said they are concerned about the number of guns being stolen from cars, especially unlocked cars.

“Firearms being stolen from unsecured motor vehicles remain a challenge, and our patrol units continue seizing weapons off the streets connected to various criminal activity,” Birkhead said.

A student at Holton Career and Resource Center has been charged with bringing a firearm onto campus Wednesday.
A student at Holton Career and Resource Center has been charged with bringing a firearm onto campus Wednesday.

Gun brought onto school bus in Raleigh

On Wednesday, Raleigh police said a student at Sanderson High School had brought a firearm onto a school bus on Monday.

School administrators reported the incident to police the next day, the release said.

Police declined to share the juvenile’s age or gender.