Plant City, Florida — A 16-year-old student was arrested after allegedly bringing a firearm onto a Plant City high school campus Friday morning.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified around 8:25 a.m. Friday that a student at Plant City High School may have a firearm on campus. School administrators and the school resource deputy responded after receiving the report.
Investigators say Neftali Bautista-Lopez, 16, allegedly approached two students and demanded cash while threatening to physically harm them. During the encounter, Bautista-Lopez reportedly displayed a firearm inside his backpack, prompting one of the victims to hand over money.
Deputies later located Bautista-Lopez at his residence in Plant City after the incident was reported. According to the sheriff’s office, the teen told deputies he had left the firearm at a friend’s house.
Authorities said deputies responded to that residence and located the firearm and the reported stolen money inside a friend’s vehicle. Investigators stated the firearm was not loaded and no ammunition was found.
Bautista-Lopez was taken into custody and faces several charges, including robbery with a firearm (less than $750), tampering with physical evidence, disrupting a school campus or function, minor in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, and possession of a firearm on school property.
“Bringing a firearm onto a school campus and threatening students is a serious crime that will never be tolerated,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Thanks to the quick response from the victims, the school, and our deputies, this situation was addressed before anyone was harmed.”
Officials say the case remains under investigation, and additional updates may be released as information becomes available.
The incident drew attention among students and families across the community, particularly as many local students were arriving on campus at the time the report was made.
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