The assistant principal of Central High School found a .38-caliber handgun wrapped in a towel, inside a student’s backpack.
The weapon was unloaded, but five rounds of ammunition were with the gun, according to a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office news release.
Assistant principal Lesa Johnson told deputies that she “received information earlier Monday that a student possibly had alcohol on school property,” according to the news release.
Ms. Johnson searched a 17-year-old’s book bag and found the handgun. She did not find any alcohol.
School Resource Officer Jim Naylor assisted the assistant principal. The 17-year-old was charged with carrying a weapon on school property and transported to the Hamilton County Detention Center.