CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A loaded handgun with two loaded magazines was found in a student’s backpack at Kenwood High School Wednesday morning.

A School Resource Officer and a school administrator were responding to “an altercation” involving three students, according to a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Bishop Delaney.

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One student’s backpack was searched on suspicions of contraband, and the loaded handgun was found. Two magazines full of ammunition were also found in the backpack, Delaney said.

“There were no threats made involving the weapon, directed toward the school, or any of the parties involved,” Delaney said. “This is an isolated situation and there are no additional school safety concerns related to this incident.”

The incident is under investigation, and no further information has been released.

Mandatory expulsion, criminal charges

Clarksville-Montgomery County School System issued a reminder that possession of a firearm is a zero-tolerance offense with a mandatory one-calendar-year expulsion, and it is a criminal offense under state law.

“Please take this opportunity to remind your children about the importance of immediately reporting any safety concern at school to a teacher, SRO, administrator, or other trusted adult, and of the serious consequences for carrying a weapon on school property,” the CMCSS statement said.

“We take any threat against the safety of our schools very seriously,” said Sheriff John Fuson. “A loaded gun in a student’s backpack certainly qualifies as a threat to school safety.”

MCSO and CMCSS are currently piloting a weapons detection system, Fuson pointed out. “It is my desire to ensure that this technology is utilized in every CMCSS school building, as soon as practically possible.”

The Evolv system is being piloted now at Northwest High, and CMCSS officials have said it will be tested at Rossview High mid-year.

“We will most definitely ensure that this student is appropriately charged for this while continuing to work hard to protect our schools and keep our students safe,” Fuson said.

Correction: A quote about threats attributed to CMCSS should have been attributed to Sheriff Fuson. Also, the weapons detection system pilot has not yet begun at Rossview; it is planned for mid-year. The article has been updated.