Second Cape student arrested in connection with gun found at school

A 15-year-old Cape High student was arrested Jan. 25 in connection with a 17-year-old classmate who was found with a gun on school property Jan. 17.

In a Jan. 25 statement, Delaware State Police said they arrested the second student after they learned the older teen obtained the gun at his Rehoboth Beach home after the 15-year-old gave it to him Jan. 16.

Additionally, police say, the students conspired to conceal the gun from being discovered Jan. 17 by the school resource officer and school staff after the 17-year-old was detained. 

On Jan. 25, the 15-year-old turned himself in to detectives at Troop 4. He was charged with felony possession of a deadly weapon by a person under 18, felony possession of a firearm in a safe school zone, and felony second-degree conspiracy.

The teen was arraigned by Family Court and released to a guardian on a $2,500 unsecured bond. He was also issued a no-contact order with the Cape Henlopen School District.

The school resource officer was notified by staff Jan. 17 that a student might have a firearm in their possession, state police said in a press release. Further investigation and a search of the 17-year-old’s backpack led to the discovery of a loaded 9 mm handgun. No staff or students were harmed.

The teen was taken to Troop 7 and charged with felony carrying a concealed firearm and felony possession of a firearm in a safe school zone. The teen was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Stevenson House Detention Center in lieu of a $10,000 secured bond.

The Cape Gazette has reached out to state police to ascertain whether the 17-year-old will face additional charges in relation to the incident.

Cape Superintendent Bob Fulton said the arrest is a direct result of the Delaware State Police investigation of last week’s incident, and district officials are cooperating fully. 

“Neither student has returned to school since the incident on Jan. 17,” Fulton said in a Jan. 25 statement. “Disciplinary actions will be addressed per our Student Code of Conduct and Delaware state law (11 Del.C. §1457. Possession of a weapon in a Safe School and Recreation Zone; class D, E, or F felony; class A or B misdemeanor), and will not be discussed publicly due to student privacy rights.“

In a Jan. 19 email to families and staff about the Jan. 17 incident, Fulton said the situation was promptly addressed by the school security team and law enforcement officers, and was communicated to families roughly 30 minutes after notification of the weapon being found. 

Fulton said one safety and security measure the district implemented this school year involved increasing the number of district safety personnel by hiring one additional Delaware State Police school resource officer and eight constables. The district now has 12 SROs/constables and at least one SRO or constable in each of the district’s nine schools every day, he said. 

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing communication between schools and families, Fulton said, and he encouraged parents to have open conversations with their children about the significance of reporting any concerns they may have regarding the safety of themselves or their peers.

In a similar situation at a nearby high school Jan. 24, DSP announced the arrest of an 18-year-old student at Indian River High School in Dagsboro after two knives were located in his backpack that morning.

Police said the school resource officer at Indian River High was notified at approximately 9 a.m. by school staff that they discovered a vape pen with suspected THC and two folding knives following their search of the student’s backpack. The student was removed from the school and turned over to the custody of a parent, police said. No threats were made, and no students or staff were harmed.

The student later turned himself in at Troop 4, where he was charged with felony possession of a weapon in a safe school zone, felony carrying of a concealed weapon and marijuana possession.

The student was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released after posting a $2,001 secured bond. He was also issued a no-contact order with the Indian River School District.

In a statement released by the district Jan. 25, school officials said the Indian River High school resource officer took the student into custody without incident and the school day continued as normal. The student has been disciplined in accordance with the IRSD Student Code of Conduct.

“We appreciate the assistance of the Delaware State Police, and we will continue to work with students and families to ensure a safe and secure learning environment,” the statement read.