Jacksonville school implements new rule following a firearm arrest on campus

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A student was arrested Tuesday morning after a backpack search revealed a gun and ammunition at A. Philip Randolph Career Academy, according to Duval County Public Schools.

Following an altercation, Duval County School Police searched the backpacks of students believed to be involved, which was when they found a student was in possession of an unloaded 45-caliber firearm and a magazine holding three rounds of ammunition, according to DCPS.

DCPS says the school administration took control of the weapon without incident and school police took the student into custody.

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Due to the same school having a prior incident like this last year, the school will now have students pass through metal detectors before entering the school. The new procedure will be put into place Wednesday.

"We will not tolerate weapons of any form on campus,” said Dr. Diana Greene, Duval County Public Schools superintendent. “While these incidents are rare, one is too many. Students who make this mistake will face the consequences of the criminal justice system as well as expulsion from public school.”

Duval County Public Schools increased the number of metal detectors at secondary schools last year.

A. Philip Randolph will be the first school to use the devices every day as a measure to keep weapons off-campus.

“It was my decision to implement the daily use of metal detectors at this school,” said Dr. Greene. “With the emergence of gun violence throughout all facets of society, the use of metal detectors is a topic of conversation we will need to have with parents and stakeholders throughout the district. Students need to be safe, and they need to feel safe to learn.”

Cox Media Group