MONROE, N.C. — A Monroe High School student brought a gun to school Tuesday morning, Union County Public Schools confirms.
According to officials, there were no threats or injuries related to this situation. All students and staff are safe and the student involved has been taken into custody.
The district confirms that as soon as staff learned that the weapon was on campus, they immediately involved law enforcement and took action.
Officials say the officers responded to a classroom where they found a student with a gun inside a bag; the gun was seized and the student was taken into custody.
"I want to thank the Monroe Police Department for their immediate response to keep our campus safe," Union County Public Schools said regarding the issue.
Message to parents sent out this morning:
Good Morning Monroe High School Parents,
This is Mr. Kelly calling with an important message. In an effort to keep the lines of communication open, I want to make you aware of a situation that happened at school this morning.
A Monroe High student brought a gun to school today. There were no threats or injuries related to this situation. All students and staff are safe and the student involved has been taken into custody.
As soon as staff learned that the weapon was on campus, they immediately involved law enforcement and took action. I want to thank the Monroe Police Department for their immediate response to keep our campus safe.
Parents, we take all safety matters very seriously. We need your help to keep our schools safe. Please talk to your students about bringing weapons to school and the consequences related to violating the UCPS Code of Conduct and the law. Also, please remind your student that if they see something, say something. We must work together to keep Monroe High School safe.
Thank you for your cooperation and partnership with Monroe High School. We will continue on a normal schedule today and will have a normal dismissal.
Fortunately, there were no threats made and no one was injured. Police are still trying to determine a motive in the case.
“Just trying to evaluate what led up to that, what's the reasoning behind it, what's the intent,” said Pete Hovanec, communications director for the city of Monroe.
Hovanec said officers went into the classroom and found the student, escorted that student out, checked their belongings and found a weapon.
Sources tell NBC Charlotte the suspect was a female student about 15 or 16 years old. Officials say she was taken into custody and the gun was seized by police.
NBC Charlotte asked Hovanec if the gun was loaded.
“I don't know at this time," Hovanec responded. "I do know it was a weapon and it did have a full magazine of rounds."
In a message to parents, school leaders urged people to talk to their children about the consequences of bringing a weapon to school, also asking parents to remind students, if they see something to say something.
“You need to be that first line of defense," Hovanec said. "If you see somebody or know somebody that's having difficulties and that could potentially do harm to others, you need to let somebody know."
The suspect is now facing juvenile charges. School officials say the school continued on a normal schedule and regular dismissal for the rest of the day.