Garner student charged with bringing a gun on campus

On a day when hundreds of his classmates walked out of their classrooms to honor those killed last month during a mass shooting in Florida., a Garner Magnet High School student was charged with bringing a handgun a school.

Investigators on Wednesday charged James Tyrone Davis Jr., 17, of Garner, with possession of a weapon on school campus and possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, Garner police reported.

Police said Davis was found to be in possession of a Ruger handgun at the South Garner High campus of Garner Magnet High by a school resource officer and other officials shortly before 1:30 p.m. Garner Magnet High is on the South Garner campus this year while the Garner Magnet High campus is renovated.

There were no injuries, and the weapon was unloaded. The firearm was not used or displayed in a threatening manner, police reported.

Police arrested Davis early Wednesday afternoon, said Lisa Luten, a Wake County schools spokeswoman.

Hours before, 600 of Davis’ classmates joined the thousands of students in the Triangle who participated in a 17-minute National Walkout — one minute for each of the 17 people killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14.

The walkout at the Garner campus began at 9:45 a.m. The students returned to class at 10:17 a.m., Luten reported.

Davis was booked into the Wake County jail at 3:27 p.m. His bail had not been set, a jail spokesman reported at 5:30 p.m.

State law requires an automatic 365-day suspension for any student who brings a gun on campus.

“His suspension starts today,” Luten said late Wednesday afternoon.

Garner Police added, Davis was booked into the Wake County jail at 3:27 p.m., a jail spokesman reported.

Thomasi McDonald: 919-673-5036, @thomcdonald

This story was originally published March 14, 2018 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Garner student charged with bringing a gun on campus."