Teen taken into custody after gun found at Upson-Lee High School

Sheriff says firearm was detected during student arrival

THOMASTON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- A 16-year-old male student was taken into custody this morning after deputies found a handgun in his backpack at Upson-Lee High School, according to Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore.

Kilgore said school personnel located a Ruger .380-caliber pistol as the student walked through the school’s OpenGate detection system during arrival. The student was immediately removed from campus and turned over to the school’s resource officer and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office.

Gun reported missing from Atlanta

Authorities said the pistol had been reported as “lost” from the Atlanta Police jurisdiction. The case remains under active investigation.

The teen has been charged with possession of a weapon on school property, possession of a handgun while under the age of 18, and theft of lost or mislaid property. He is being transported to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Macon for holding.

School district says no one was in danger

In a separate statement, the Thomaston-Upson School System said administrators identified the firearm through the school’s OpenGate detection system, which is part of its established security protocols.

School officials said the situation was addressed immediately and that at no time were students or staff in danger.

Kilgore said school safety remains a priority for the sheriff’s office.

“We will continue to work with our school system to keep our children and educators safe,” he said.

The school system said it will continue using and strengthening security measures, including systems funded through ESPLOST, to ensure a safe learning environment across the district.