CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — The Charles County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) says a gun found in an 8th-grade student's locker at Mattawoman Middle School Friday morning is a replica of a semiautomatic firearm.
A statement from the sheriff's office explains that a school resource officer (SRO) received information about the possible weapon before 9:15 a.m. The officer located the item and the parents of the 8th grader were contacted, SCCO says.
In a letter sent home to families Friday, Sonia Blue, the principal of Mattawoman Middle School wrote that the police received a tip about a student possibly possessing a weapon on Thursday night.
"We immediately began our investigation and found a student was in possession of a look-alike pellet gun," Blue wrote. "The gun was confiscated and the student involved faces consequences outlined in the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Code of Student Conduct as well as possible charges by police."
The Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and advised officials "to charge the student with possession of a concealed deadly weapon," the sheriff's office says.
The 8th grader was then charged "on a juvenile offense report" and was then released to their parents.
Anyone who has information about this case is asked to contact Charles County Officer Curtis at 301-932-2222. People who want to provide anonymous information can call the Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.
This investigation is ongoing, the sheriff's office says.
Blue wrote to the school community that the safety of students is a top priority.
"Please remind your children that if they see something to say something," the principal wrote.
RELATED: Montgomery County State's Attorney expects Gov. Hogan to sign bill banning ghost guns in Maryland
Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter: Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.
Sign up for the Capitol Breach email newsletter, delivering the latest breaking news and a roundup of the investigation into the Capitol Riots on January 6, 2021.