Teenager arrested for possession of 2 loaded weapons on high school campus, Tampa police

TAMPA, Fla. – A 15-year-old is facing multiple charges after being arrested for possession of loaded weapons on a Tampa-area high school campus.

Hillsborough police said the Tampa Police Department's School Resource Officer assigned to Blake High School made the arrest after the teenager was found with two loaded guns on school grounds.

Police said the two weapons were discovered during a search of students who had been caught vaping in the bathroom by school staff.

The principal of Blake High School sent parents a message about the discovery on Thursday afternoon. It said, among other things:

“The discovery of loaded firearms in the possession of a teenager on school property is deeply disturbing and alarming,” said Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “Our School Resource Officers work tirelessly to maintain a safe learning environment, and they play an important role in identifying and addressing potential threats before they can escalate. While we are thankful that no one was injured, this incident is a stark reminder of the importance of gun safety and that we must all continue to work together to prevent incidents like this from occurring.”

The teenager was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon on school property and may face additional charges, Tampa police said.