NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A 14-year-old student was busted with a gun at a school in Harlem on Wednesday—the third student to be caught with a firearm at city schools this week, authorities said.
The gun was discovered in the boy’s backpack after a fight broke out around 1 p.m. in the cafeteria at P.S. 129 on West 130th Street in Harlem.
The teen was taken into custody, with charges against him pending.
Greg Floyd, who heads the school safety officers’ union, said the gun was found by chance.
“They didn’t have enough school safety agents, so they called for backup, backup responded, and the police responded and they found one of the students with a gun,” Floyd said.
The bust follows two similar arrests on Monday at public schools in Queens and Harlem, according to police.
A 15-year-old student was found with a loaded gun at Long Island City High School. A 17-year-old student—who police said was wanted for a shooting in the Bronx—was also busted with a firearm at Harlem Renaissance High School.
Floyd said schools need more safety officers and more scanners.
“Guns have always been our problem,” Floyd said. “Having metal detectors in only 88 schools out of 1,200 schools, you could understand.”
In a statement reacting to the latest bust, a Department of Education spokesperson said, “Weapons have absolutely no place in our schools or in the hands of our young people. This item was quickly recovered by outstanding school staff, ensuring students and staff are safe. We are offering additional security and supports to the school community in the coming days."