PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Cheltenham School District is putting new security measures in place this week after a student allegedly brought a loaded gun to a high school football game in Abington Township over the weekend.
Police say the teen was found with a ghost gun — an illegal, untraceable firearm — on Friday night during a football game between Cheltenham and Abington high schools.
A parent who was at the Abington home game told police that they saw an armed teenager.
Officers searched a 17-year-old Cheltenham student, who was wearing a surgical mask, and found a loaded gun with a round in the chamber and a laser pointer attached. They also recovered two high-capacity magazines and 31 rounds of ammunition.
In a public meeting with parents Monday night, Cheltenham officials announced new changes to security at football games. Starting this week, all students will have to show a valid student ID to get in. There will also be more security and police officers patrolling the stadium and parking lot.
RELATED
Backpacks and other bags will not be allowed in. Masks that completely cover one’s face are also banned.
“There was nothing that would [have alerted] us other than that parent that saw that individual had a weapon,” Cheltenham School District Superintendent Brian Scriven said of the incident.
Cheltenham football coach Kevin Height praised the heightened security, but he believes parents need to talk to their children about safety.
“Personally, I believe it starts at home,” he told NBC10.
Brent Ryan, a parent, agreed. “Making sure that you have a relationship with your child and you prepare your child to be aware of your surroundings. If they see something that’s wrong, you go to where it’s right.”
Related
The Abington School District has not announced similar safety changes.
The 17-year-old will likely face charges.
NBC10 is a broadcast partner of KYW Newsradio.