News

Oct 26, 2024

Gun seized at Godby High was loaded; superintendent rivals debate

As new details emerge about a student arrested with a gun at Godby High School, the candidates for Leon County Superintendent have different ideas for dealing with a problem that has plagued the

As new details emerge about a student arrested with a gun at Godby High School, the candidates for Leon County Superintendent have different ideas for dealing with a problem that has plagued the district.

Shonda Knight, spokesperson for the Leon County Sheriff's Office, told the Tallahassee Democrat Friday that the student arrested was a 17-year-old female, and the gun she brought on campus was loaded.

The weapon was discovered in her backpack after the school's resource deputy acted on an anonymous tip that there was a weapon on campus.

Officials did not disclose the type of gun, if it had been reported stolen or the student's intentions.

The teen was disciplined in accordance with the student code of conduct and arrested on a charge of felony possession of a weapon on campus.

Tuesday's incident marks the third loaded firearm confiscated on a Leon County school campus so far this year, and the seventh arrest overall.

During a recent candidate forum sponsored by the Tallahassee Democrat, WFSU and the League of Women Voters, the candidates vying for the superintendent seat discussed increasing safety measures at school sites.

Incumbent Rocky Hanna and challenger Chiles High School Principal Joe Burgess both agreed school safety is important but differed on methods of addressing ways to combat the problem.

Burgess unequivocally said all schools should have permanent metal detectors to ensure the protection of students despite the logistical hurdles staff may face to implement the measure.

"We do have to put in metal detectors, we need that kind of level of safety to ensure to our parents and to the students who attend school every day, that they're safe in our schools and on our campuses," Burgess said.

Hanna was less firm and said the district's safety and security team traveled to Broward County in September to learn more about universal metal detectors. However, he emphasized the challenges of getting students through the doors in an efficient way.

The current practice is to use mobile metal detectors at random. The district has also installed AI weapons detection in its security cameras and brings in a weapon sniffing dog for random checks.

"It's logistically a little more problematic to see how exactly that would work, with 2,000 kids rushing into schools and all going through metal detectors," Hanna said during the forum. He also said it would impact upper classmen, who leave campus for lunch.

The district has launched a campaign to encourage students, teachers, parents and community members to report any suspicious activity to help in a unified effort to foster safer campuses.

Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter/X:@AlaijahBrown3.