ECORSE (WWJ) - Wayne County prosecutors charged an Ecorse High School student with possession after the teen snuck a gun onto school grounds -- an incident that has school administrators reviewing current security measures.
The juvenile offender, identified only as a 17-year-old male, allegedly had the gun stashed in his backpack when he arrived at school Thursday morning. It is unclear how he managed to slip the weapon past school security, who perform daily screenings.
Another student alerted school officials to the situation, and Ecorse Police were called at around 10:30 a.m. to escort the student off campus.
Whether or not the gun was loaded was not released to the public.
The teen now faces two charges -- carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a weapon in a weapons-free school zone.
Bond has been set at $4,000, and the defendant is prohibited from possessing any weapons, using illegal substances and having any contact with Ecorse High School.
A pre-trial is set for January 5, 2023.
Ecorse Public Schools Superintendent Josha Talison said in a letter to parents that security will be immediately re-evaluated in light of the incident.
Talison said no students or staff were harmed in the matter and an investigation by local law enforcement and district officials was launched.
The district said they were "grateful" to the student who came forward and alerted officials.
"We understand the alarm a weapon can cause to school communities, and I want to assure that your child's physical and mental well-being is, and always will be, our primary concern." Talison wrote. "Working together, we can make our community a safer place by reminding children of the seriousness of making a threat or bringing a weapon to school."
The superintendent said security measures were already in place "for your children's physical safety" with daily screenings performed on all students entering school grounds.
It remains unclear how the juvenile was able to get the gun into the building, but the district said it is revisiting those protocols.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we will be reviewing these measures and producers to ensure the safety of our students and school community moving forward," Talison said.
The superintendent ended his letter by stressing the importance of parents teaching their children to speak up and report suspicious activity to deter dangerous activity.
Tips can be made through the state's OKAY2SAY program at 8-555-OK2SAY or via email at OKAY2SAY@mi.gov.
For more on what you may have missed in the news this morning, click on the player below: