Police arrest student, 17, for bringing gun into Southfield school

Southfield — A 17-year-old accused of bringing a gun to school Wednesday is expected to be charged Thursday afternoon, police said.

"We've submitted a warrant request to the prosecutor's office seeking a charge of carrying a concealed weapon," Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren said.

Barren made the remarks during a news conference at Southfield police headquarters. He was joined by Southfield Deputy Police Chiefs Jeffrey Jagielski and Thomas Langewicz, who are in charge of the department's investigations and patrol divisions.

The chief said the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office has not yet decided whether to charge the teen, a Wayne County resident, as a minor or an adult.

School officials, parents and community members Thursday have been asking Barren and his staff about the potential for a repeat of the shooting Tuesday at Oxford High School that killed four students wounded seven others, he said.

"There's no indication there was a copy-cat situation or any types of threat against the school," Barren said. "It seems to be a poor decision from this young man to not only carry a weapon, but carry a weapon on school property."

Officers were called at about 12:30 p.m. to the Southfield Regional Academic Campus after the school's principal received a tip that the student was in possession of a weapon, according to authorities. The facility is an alternative high school located on Evergreen Road south of Nine Mile Road.

School resource officers and school administrators pulled the student from a classroom and escorted him to the office, according to authorities.

Police found a pistol in the student's coat pocket, officials said. They also said the gun had three bullets in the magazine, but no bullet in the chamber.

Officers arrested the student and took him to the Southfield Police Department. He was later taken to Oakland County Children’s Village to await charges.

Barren praised the student who alerted school officials about the weapon. Students at the school told police the student had been carrying the weapon with him for several weeks, he said. 

"Due to recent events, a student stepped up and I commend that student," the chief said. "That allowed us to arrest him inside the school without incident. That student displayed courage and did the right thing."

He said he hopes other students will follow the example.

The police chief said the gun is a purple Bersa Thunder .380 caliber semi-automatic gun. He said it had an extended magazine in it, containing the three live rounds. There's no indication the student had fired the weapon, according to Barren. 

He also said it's unclear where the student got the gun. The student told police he found the weapon. Investigators said it does not appear at this point the student had any intention other than to keep the weapon.

Barren said investigators checked and it's not clear who owns the gun. He also said they have not turned up any reports that it was stolen.

Detectives are still working on a ballistics report and, at this point, they do not know if the weapon was used in any other crimes, he added.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @CharlesERamirez