Rutherford County, TN – A Rutherford County middle school student is facing charges after a weapons detection system alerted administrators to a handgun during school arrival Monday morning, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the sheriff’s office, the alert occurred as students were entering Christiana Middle School, prompting immediate action by school staff and the school resource officer. Officials said the weapon was discovered quickly and confiscated without incident.
Authorities said the student, an eighth-grader, was found in possession of a partially assembled, unloaded, and non-functional handgun. Investigators emphasized that no threats were made or communicated, and there was no indication of intent to harm others.
The student was charged by the school resource officer and transported to the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center, according to officials. School administrators said the student will also face disciplinary action in line with district policy.
Even though the handgun was not operational, Rutherford County Schools notified parents Monday as a precautionary measure. District officials said the communication was intended to keep families informed and to prevent misinformation or rumors from spreading.
The detection system involved is part of a district-wide safety upgrade implemented in all Rutherford County schools this year.
“We are grateful for the success of our weapons detection system,” Director of Schools Dr. Jimmy Sullivan said in a statement. “We also appreciate our strong partnership with the Sheriff’s Office and the school resource officers, who always react quickly and treat these situations with utmost urgency.”
Officials reiterated that student safety was never compromised and that normal school operations continued after the incident.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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