Five Students In Custody After Gun Found In Bonner-Prendergast Locker
UPPER DARBY, Pa. (CBS) -- Five students at Bonner-Prendergast Catholic High School in Upper Darby, Delaware County were arrested Wednesday in an incident involving marijuana and a loaded gun.
Upper Darby Police Superintendant Mike Chitwood says police were notified and the school was placed on lockdown after a student reported seeing a drug deal on the street involving classmates, one of whom brandished a gun.
"Dogs started searching the lockers, hit on two lockers," Chitwood said. "We locked up two males who were totally unrelated to the initial incident, because marijuana was found in their lockers."
On a tip, police checked another boy's duffel bag, and found multiple rounds of ammunition, discovered weed on the kid who was reportedly seen waving the gun. And finally, in a girl's locker, they hit paydirt.
"A fully loaded 9mm semiautomatic gun," Chitwood said.
Five students, freshmen and sophomores at the high school, were arrested. Chitwood says a deadly weapon is off the streets, all because a kid spoke up.
"Exactly what you're supposed to do," he said, "see something, say something."
The archdiocese released the following statement on Wednesday evening regarding the incident.
"Thankfully, no one was harmed. Incidents such as this demonstrate the importance of all members of the school community working together to maintain a safe environment. Parents have been asked to speak to their children and remind them that they should always report any suspicious activity immediately... The school continues to cooperate fully with the Upper Darby Police Department and is extremely grateful for their assistance."