STATESBORO, Ga. () — During a pre-planned safety search at Statesboro High School on Thursday, a student was apprehended for possessing a handgun, according to the Statesboro Police Department (SPD).

The 16-year-old was taken into custody and transported to a youth detention center, facing charges of carrying a weapon in a school safety zone (a felony) and possessing a handgun as a person under 18.

SPD officers and K9s from Special Investigations, alongside K9s from the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), carried out the pre-arranged search in collaboration with the school administration.

The search was designed to ensure student safety by uncovering weapons or contraband items.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Bulloch County Schools put out a statement on social media:

“Our school district has communicated with all of our students’ families across the district about today’s incident at Statesboro High School.”

For information related to this case, contact Officer Kyle Wright at 912-764-9911 or provide an anonymous tip via the SPD website using the “Submit a Tip” option.