Just this month, more than a dozen guns have been found in NC schools. Here’s where.
At least 13 firearms have been found in North Carolina public schools in February, raising the fears of parents, students and school employees.
On an almost daily basis, there are reports across the state of schools going into lockdowns due to threats of violence or weapons being found on campus.
It’s causing school leaders to look into installing metal detectors and to ask gun owners to safeguard their weapons.
“Please lock up your guns and keep them clear of your children,” Wake County school board member Cheryl Caulfield said at last week’s board meeting. “I’ll remind us that nearly all of the guns that come to our schools are from families. So to prevent any incidents or charges against you personally, please be proactive and lock them up and talk to your children and come up with a plan .”
North Carolina statistics
The rash of school guns comes amid recent national and state statistics showing increasing incidents involving kids, crime and guns.
From 2019 to 2021 the number of North Carolina minors killed by guns more than doubled to 121, The News & Observer reported.
In the fiscal year that ended July 30, 2022, 65% of the cases where North Carolina minors were arrested for violent crime offenses involved a firearm, The News & Observer reported. In addition, North Carolina youth nonviolent firearm offenses, such as possession of a handgun by a minor and larceny of a firearm, increased by 26% to 3,008.
The state Department of Public Instruction will release the school crime, suspension and dropout numbers for the 2021-22 school year at Wednesday’s State Board of Education meeting.
This school year’s crime data isn’t expected to be released until early next year.
School gun incidents
A News & Observer review of school and media reports found more than a dozen separate incidents of firearms being reported in North Carolina schools in February.
▪ On Feb. 1, classes were dismissed early after a student brought a gun to Rolesville High School. A student also brought a gun to Glenn High School in Forsyth County that day. And a student also brought a gun to South Mecklenburg High School.
▪ On Feb. 6, a student brought a gun to Hillside High School in Durham.
▪ On Feb. 14, a student brought a gun to Wendell Middle School. A student also brought a gun to Fairview Elementary School in Nash County.
▪ On Feb. 15, a student brought a gun to Cleveland High School in Johnston County.
▪ On Feb. 17, a student brought a gun to Erwin Elementary School in Harnett County. A student also brought a gun to Luther Nick Jeralds Middle School in Cumberland County.
▪ On Feb. 20, a student brought a shotgun to Elkin High School in Wilkes County.
▪ On Thursday, Feb. 23, a juvenile brought an AR-15 rifle to Millbrook High School in Raleigh during a basketball game.
▪ On Friday, Feb. 24, a student brought a gun to Jordan High School in Durham.
▪ On Monday, Feb. 27, a student brought a gun to Star Academy in Harnett County.
In addition, other schools have reported students bringing pellet guns and toy guns that look like real firearms.
There have also been multiple threats, many made on social media, that have led to schools being locked down.
In several cases, students have had to stay inside their classrooms until law enforcement gave them the all clear to leave.
