Officials: Student with gun at school arrested

Mandarin High School student faces possible expulsion

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – School leaders said a Mandarin High School student is facing possible expulsion after he brought a gun to school Thursday.

Duval County spokeswoman Tia Ford told Channel 4 that police arrested a teenager at Mandarin High Thursday.

Channel 4 went to campus to speak to students about the incident on Thursday. One student who asked not to be identified said they saw the arrest and was surprised by who police put in handcuffs.

"He was a good student; his personality was outstanding. I don't know why he would do this," said the student. "I was surprised. Knowing what students are capable of nowadays, I don't know why they would blow their opportunities like this."

The student told Channel 4 the arrest happened around 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

"I overheard the police officers go through the library and outside and say they were called to classroom room 206, so me and my friend went down the halls and when we turned right, the cops pulled a student out of class and we saw them cuff him," said the student.

"Is he the type of student that was being bullied?" asked Channel 4's Tim Pulliam.

"No, he was the type of student that people looked up to, in a way of leadership, he's a really good guy, you know, I'm going to listen to him because he gives really good ideas," said the student.

Parents told Channel 4 they were notified immediately by the school principal. Chris Pruett, a parent with the district, said he received a recorded voice message on his phone about the incident.

"The school did exactly what they were supposed to do. The resource officers responded well and took care of it," said Pruett.

Channel 4 also spoke with a teacher at the school Thursday. The teacher did not want to be identified but said school police responded quickly and no one was hurt.

"It's just kind of a reality check, where you are in a situation, where you are trying to assert conduct management, but a student in the wrong mentality. What could happen next?" said the teacher.

Channel 4 has posed several questions to the Duval County School district about the incident that have not been answered. Channel 4 also requested the incident report from the school district; it was not made available Thursday night.