GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A student faces criminal charges after he allegedly brought a gun to a metro Atlanta school, Thursday, officials confirm.
In a letter home to parents, the principal of Lanier High School off Buford Highway made parents aware of the situation, and that no one was hurt.
According to the letter, administrators got a tip that a student may have brought a gun onto school grounds. Officials said they "moved quickly" to investigate, and did find the gun in the student's possession. Officials say the student will face disciplinary action in addition to possible criminal charges.
"News of a weapon on campus is unsettling for all of us, especially in light of the tragic events from yesterday in Florida," the letter reads. "We have security measures in place at our school. However, we can never underestimate the role we all – students, parents and teachers – play in keeping our school safe."
READ | Letter home to parents
Officials thanked those who reported the information that "allowed us to address this quickly and efficiently."
The incident comes in the wake of a devastating school shooting in Florida, where a 19-year-old alleged shooter shot and killed 17 students and adults. The aftermath of the shooting has led metro Atlanta schools to re-examine their own policies when it comes to keeping students safe on campus.
According to Georgia Department of Education disciplinary data for the 2016-2017 school year, a total of 149 guns were brought on school grounds across Georgia. Most of the districts where the incidents happened were in metro Atlanta school districts.
