LEECHBURG, Pa. — A 13-year-old student was taken into custody Thursday after being found in possession of a semi-automatic handgun, Leechburg police said in a press release.
Authorities said the boy was accused of having a firearm after he allegedly brandished it in front of another student.
Eighth-grader Nick Coss told Channel 11 News that he was in the bathroom near the cafeteria when he and eighth-grader Bailey Herb were confronted by the boy and saw the gun.
“Me and my friend were in there, and he walked in and pulled up his sweatshirt. The gun was on his waist, and he said, ‘Don't mess with us,’” Nick said.
Nick said the gun looked real, but since he wasn't sure, he and Bailey went to the guidance counselor after lunch and told her what they saw.%
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"They were all like, ‘Thank you for telling us because we wouldn't know what he would've done if you wouldn't have told us,’” Bailey said.
Leechburg police officers arrived at the school and found the student to be unsecured in the principal’s office.
Officers immediately performed a safety pat-down of the student and found a fully loaded, semi-automatic, .45-caliber Rocky Island Armory handgun. Police said the gun was fully loaded, chambered and ready to fire.
No shots were fired at the school and no one was injured.
Police said the student was taken into custody and further investigation revealed the firearm had been stolen within the Borough of Leechburg.
The teen is facing multiple charges, including possession of a weapon on school property, firearm not to be carried without a license, possession of a firearm by a minor, receiving stolen property and burglary.
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