Authorities are still investigating the situation as two male students face charges for bringing loaded firearms to Battery Creek High School last week. According to an incident report from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, school officials and classmates characterised the two high school students as “best friends.”
On March 19, shortly after the school day commenced, the search for two firearms was initiated. An anonymous student reported to an assistant principal that they had witnessed one of the boys in possession of a handgun during a recent school event.
A report indicates that the first student was found with a Palmetto State Armoury Dagger concealed in the front of his trousers. Following the discovery, administrators, sheriff’s deputies and a school resource officer proceeded to the gym. There, they uncovered a Glock 10mm handgun with 14 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber inside the second suspect’s backpack.
Two boys have been placed in the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia after facing Family Court charges for possessing a firearm on school property, a felony offence in South Carolina. School officials and police have not disclosed the names of the students involved, as they are minors.
A high school in the Beaufort area, serving approximately 800 students, experienced a lockdown lasting around 4 hours following the incident. According to the policies of the Beaufort County School District, both students are facing expulsion.
After classes concluded, Battery Creek administrators took precautionary measures, prompting the sheriff’s office to conduct a search of the outer perimeter with a bloodhound, suspecting that one of the students might have concealed another weapon on campus. No unusual findings were reported.
Since 2021, Beaufort County public schools have seen at least seven students charged for bringing firearms onto campus.
What is this? “Is this a gun?”
Following an anonymous tip received at approximately 9:30 a.m., BCHS Assistant Principal Daniel Van Winkle took action by removing the first suspect from class for a search, citing a need for caution, according to the incident report.
The boy was hesitant to comply with the search, but after his mother arrived on campus, she granted police the authority to conduct a pat-down.
“What is this all about?” “Is this a firearm?” Winkle reported to the police that he discovered the firearm concealed in the front of the boy’s trousers. The SRO quickly approached the student and placed him in handcuffs.
A report indicates that the mother of the student advised her son to remain silent and not disclose any information to others until they secured legal representation. He exercised his right to remain silent and chose not to communicate with law enforcement.
Following the incident, BCHS Principal Denise Lessard informed law enforcement that she was initiating a lockdown at the school due to concerns about a “possible second gun on campus,” according to the report. Authorities, including school administrators and law enforcement, initiated a search in the gym for a backpack linked to the second suspect, who was described as “best friends” with the recently detained student.
A backpack was discovered unattended in the school gym, located behind the table designated for scoring basketball games, according to Lessard. A school resource officer discovered a loaded Glock pistol inside the bag.
A second student was subsequently removed from class and taken into custody. Under the guidance of his mother, who advised him to remain silent until legal representation was secured, he chose not to engage with law enforcement.
According to Lt. Danny Allen, a spokesperson for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, authorities have not discovered any evidence suggesting that the students planned to utilise the firearms. Authorities noted that the firearms were not reported stolen and were not registered to the parents of either boy, prompting enquiries into how the underage students acquired the weapons.
