BLYTHEWOOD – A Westwood High School student was arrested on campus last week after investigators with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department found him to be in possession of a handgun on school grounds. The gun had been reported stolen earlier in the day, Jan. 14, from a home on Hawkins Creek Road.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home at 7:45 that morning where the victim reported a gun box inside the home had been broken into and the Hi-Point handgun stolen. The Sheriff’s Department said the victim’s daughter had recently had several friends from Westwood High School at the home and a list of the guests was compiled and the Westwood High School staff and School Resource Officer were notified.
The Sheriff’s Department said that the student, a 16-year-old male, was found to be in possession of the gun at the high school a short time later. Following an interview with the suspect, the Sheriff’s Department said that the student had no intent to harm anyone at the school.
The student has been charged with larceny, weapons violations, carrying a weapon on school grounds, possession of a weapon by a minor under the age of 18 and possession of a stolen weapon.
