MABELVALE, Little Rock — According to authorities, at about 2:45 p.m., a 15-year-old male student at Mabelvale Middle School was arrested after a handgun was found in his backpack.
Mabelvale Middle School Principal Eric Henderson stated that one student reported the male student as having a handgun in his possession.
Henderson also said the student didn't threaten anyone on campus.
The student was taken into custody by a school resource officer. He is being charged as a juvenile with possession of a weapon on school property.
There were no injuries and police say the case is still under investigation.
Read Principal Eric Henderson's letter to parents:
"This is Principal Eric Henderson calling to inform you of an incident on campus this afternoon. A student reported that another student was in possession of a handgun. We immediately enacted our emergency protocols, placing the school on lockdown while LRPD and LRSD Safety and Security officers conducted an investigation. When the student was confronted, authorities confiscated a gun from his backpack. He will be sanctioned according to the handbook and law. At no time did the student threaten harm to anyone on campus. We grateful for the quick actions of the alert student who reported the incident, and for the immediate response by our security teams who resolved the matter without incident. It takes all of us working together to keep our schools safe. Parents, this is an important lesson to share with your student, "if they see something, say something." We appreciate the support you provide to our school daily. If you have questions, please contact our office."
We will update this article with more information as it becomes available.