Gun found at J.E.B. Stuart Middle School

No one injured in incident; student arrested by JSO

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A gun was found at J.E.B. Stuart Middle School on Jacksovnille's Westside on Thursday, according to a letter the school sent home with students.

No one was hurt in the incident, but the student, who has not been named, was arrested.

The Duval County School District has not provided any information about the incident, but Principal Sadie Milliner-Smith wrote in the letter to parents that an anonymous phone tip prompted a search of students' belongings. Within minutes a handgun was found and police were notified.

The student in possession of the gun was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. There is no word on any specific charges the student might face.

"We are very pleased with the responsiveness and cooperation of our students, staff and security teams," Milliner-Smith wrote.

The letter said the student will face discipline according the the Code of Student Conduct, which could include a recommendation for expulsion because bringing a weapon to a school campus is a Class 4 violation.

People who got the letters sent home with the students were distressed by the event.

"My granddaughter just told me," said Harry Knox. "They need to do something about it."

This is not this middle school's first experience with guns this year. Last month two 14-year-olds were arrested with loaded handguns at the school.

News4Jax has been researching guns in Duval County schools, and Thursday's incident would be at least the 30th in the past two years.  

CHART: Gun-at-school incidents since October 2012

"It is a large number and parents are alarmed, and they should be," said News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith

But Smith said Thursday's incident is another example of someone speaking up to prevent a possible tragedy.

"What they need to do is let an administrator know. That seems to be working. That seems to be quite effective, because in most of these cases, they've let someone know," Smith said. "Then they've checked the student, checked the backpack and found the weapon. That seems to be working very well. That's what I'm most pleased about is students are telling someone."

Smith said about a month ago Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said he planned to meet with the school board to try to figure out a way to solve the issue of weapons in schools.

"But while they're working on that, what they need to be doing at least at JEB Stuart and others -- I believe Wolfson High School had two incidents -- is doing random locker searches," Smith said. "Checking lockers, a certain number every day."


About the Author:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.