Student detained for carrying weapon on Hilton Head High school campus, police say

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has detained a Hilton Head High School student after reports the teen was seen running away from the school’s campus with a handgun tucked into his waistband, according to officials.

The male student was seen with the gun shortly after school let out Tuesday, a Sheriff’s Office alert says. It says witnesses notified school officials.

Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the student’s home and received consent to search the residence.

“When the deputies searched the residence, a pistol — similar to the one witnesses reported seeing in the student’s waistband — was recovered.”

The alert say, the student arrived at the home shortly after deputies discovered the pistol.

The teen is detained for carrying a weapon on school property and unlawful carrying of a handgun. He has been transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia where he will be held pending an appearance before the Family Court.

“There is no public safety threat,” Capt. Bob Bromage said Tuesday night.

The Beaufort County School District sent out an alert at about 5:30 p.m. about the incident.

Amanda O’Nan, principal at Hilton Head High, later emailed parents

At least 14 school shooting threats have been reported at schools within the district since the start of the 2018-19 school year.

On Friday, Hilton Head Island High School was placed on a modified lockdown due to school shooting rumors, which were later found to be “unsubstantiated.”

Amanda O’Nan, principal at Hilton Head High, told parents in an email Tuesday night that the rumors that prompted Friday’s lockdown were connected to Tuesday’s arrest.

“I feel much more comfortable now that the weapon has been confiscated and the student is detained,” O’Nan wrote in the email.

O’Nan told parents she will be arranging a meeting next week to hear their concerns regarding safety at the school.

“I am bothered by the constant threat to our schools not just in the Lowcountry but across the nation... I want parents to be able to voice their opinions and worries so that we can work together to make this not just a great academic school but a safe school,” she wrote in the email.

This story will be updated as more information is available.

This story was originally published December 11, 2018 at 6:22 PM with the headline "Student detained for carrying weapon on Hilton Head High school campus, police say."