MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — The month of May brought about major gun seizures for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. The department says 413 firearms were taken in connection to criminal investigations.
CMPD says that amount is the most guns seized in a single month over the past seven years. In total 1,230 guns have been seized so far in 2022. That's up 11% from last year and up to 40% compared to the average number of guns seized over the last five years.
Yet reducing gun violence in the streets isn't the only priority. School safety is another issue.
On Monday, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district confirmed a gun was found on the campus of Coulwood STEM Academy.
District leaders said no one was hurt, and law enforcement responded to the school, and an investigation is underway.
The principal told families that students will not be allowed to bring book bags onto campus for the remainder of the school year -- the school year ends on Wednesday. This only applies to Coulwood STEM Academy, not other CMS campuses.
The following message was sent to families:
"Hello Coulwood STEM Academy families, This is Principal Moss with an important message about a situation that occurred today. A student was found with a firearm on our campus. Law enforcement arrived and an investigation is ongoing. All students and staff are safe, and learning and teaching are continuing. Please speak with your students about the serious consequences of bringing a weapon of any kind to school. It is a violation of the law and the CMS Code of Student Conduct to bring any weapon on campus. In addition, students will not be allowed to bring book bags onto campus for the remainder of the school year. Thank you for your support of Coulwood STEM Academy."
Last Tuesday, CMS confirmed clear backpacks will not go to high school students this school year. That update came after months of silence on the backpacks -- which cost the district nearly $500,000 -- didn’t go out as planned in March.
The backpacks were supposed to be one of many tools to curb violence in CMS schools. So far this school year CMS says there have been 29 firearms found on school property.
RELATED: With only one week left, CMS confirms clear backpacks will not be distributed this school year