HOT SPRINGS -- A 16-year-old Hot Springs High School student was arrested Thursday after school district officials on campus discovered a loaded handgun that was later determined to have been stolen.
The student was charged with felony counts of carrying a handgun on school property and theft by receiving of a firearm. He was taken into custody at the school and held at the Garland County Juvenile Detention Center to await an appearance in Garland County Juvenile Court.
His name was withheld because of his age.
An affidavit filed in the case said Hot Springs police officer Joseph Williams, who works as the school's resource officer, was notified by dean of students Tony Hines around 2 p.m. that the student possibly had a handgun in his possession.
Hines pulled the student out of class and found in his backpack a handgun wrapped in a gray jacket. Williams said the black Ruger revolver was loaded with five rounds.
A computer check revealed that the gun had been reported stolen in May to the Police Department.
The student displayed it to other students during the day, according to a statement from Superintendent Mike Hernandez that the district posted on Facebook and sent to staff members Thursday afternoon.
"I have reviewed material relating to the ongoing law enforcement investigation into the incident, and I have verified that the student did bring a handgun to school," Hernandez said in the Facebook statement, which was addressed to parents and staff.
"Further, although the investigation into this matter is continuing, I have verified that the offending student did not appear to bring the weapon to school for the purpose of threatening or intentionally causing harm to anyone."
Information for this article was contributed by Steven Mross of the Sentinel-Record.
State Desk on 10/30/2015