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Pasco Deputies: Boy Brought Loaded Gun To School

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By RONNIE BLAIR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 5, 2008

Updated: 09/05/2008 05:43 pm

TRINITY - A Seven Springs Middle School student was arrested today after a search of his backpack revealed a 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun with a round loaded in the chamber, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office reported.

The 12-year-old student, facing a charge of possession of a firearm on a school campus, was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

The gun was discovered about 12:15 p.m. when a school staff member who deals with discipline noticed the student showing another student something in a backpack as the two of them stood just outside the cafeteria, Principal David Salerno said.

The staff member took the student, who at first claimed to have a BB gun, to see the school resource officer, according to Salerno and the sheriff's office report.

When the backpack was inspected, though, the handgun was found, the report said. The boy said he brought the gun to school to show to a friend, the report said.

Salerno said he sent a letter home to parents to let them know about the incident. He also used an automated telephone message to inform them.

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