Loaded Gun Found in 17-Year-Old’s Backpack After Delaware High School Fight, Police Say

A hallway fight at a Delaware high school led to something more serious Monday afternoon when a school resource officer searched a 17-year-old student’s backpack.

Inside, Delaware State Police say, was a loaded handgun.

The discovery came after the officer and school staff broke up a fight at Glasgow High School in Newark. Police said the student had removed his backpack before the confrontation, and the officer later learned it contained marijuana.

The student was ultimately charged with four felony firearm offenses and a marijuana offense and committed to state juvenile services on an $87,000 cash bond.

Inside The Backpack

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The fight was reported at about 1 p.m. Sept. 14 in a Glasgow High School hallway, according to Delaware State Police.

The school’s resource officer and staff separated the students involved, including the 17-year-old.

As the officer looked into what had happened, police said the officer learned that the teenager had taken off his backpack before the fight and that marijuana was inside it.

A search turned up a small quantity of marijuana and the loaded handgun.

After The Fight

The 17-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the fight and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police reported no other injuries.

After the student was discharged, police took him to Troop 2.

He was charged with felony possession of a firearm by a person under 21, felony possession of ammunition by a person under 21, felony possession of a firearm in a safe school zone, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of marijuana under 18.

The teen was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families on an $87,000 cash bond.

Quick Response

The Christina School District told Action News that the incident was unacceptable and credited the school’s resource officer, staff, and Delaware State Police with responding quickly.

Corporal Rashawn Rich told the station that having the school resource officer already on site helped keep the confrontation from escalating further.

Action News reported Tuesday that the 17-year-old remained held on the $87,000 bond.

The charges are allegations. The student is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.