JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Less than two weeks into the new Duval County school year, a student was arrested because police said he was carrying a gun on campus.
The student is the second 15-year-old who Jacksonville police said was caught with a gun in just the last two days.
The most recent incident took place Wednesday morning, when a teen, whose name is not being released because of his age, was arrested for bringing a loaded gun to Raines High School and hiding it near his crotch.
"He did have it concealed in his crotch area in a do-rag that he actually had," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson.
Investigators said they went to Raines to arrest the teen on a warrant in reference to a shooting incident at the Andrew Jackson High School pool.
A police report states that after officers arrived at the school and took the suspect into custody, the teen said, "Officer, I need to tell you something. I didn't want to tell you in there, but I have a gun on me."
"He said he would never shoot anyone at school because, 'that's crazy.' But, if he went to a dangerous neighborhood, he would have a gun," Jefferson said.
Wednesday's arrest is not the only recent case involving a 15-year-old with a gun at school. On Tuesday, Jacksonville police arrested a different 15-year-old boy who they said had a loaded .22-caliber in his backpack a block from Paxon Middle School
[Read Story].
"The kids have access to guns. They get them from somewhere -- home or friends. They're too accessible, really," said concerned parent Lucille Trotter.
Trotter said she worries about her grandson growing up as a teenager, knowing cases like those at Paxon and Raines exist.
"They definitely should be safe at school. You should be able to send your child to school and feel that they will be OK, but you don't have that assurance now," Trotter said.
The teen arrested at Raines was charged with possession of a firearm on school property.
The school board said expulsion is the punishment for brining a gun to school.
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