4 Polk High School Students Arrested After Handgun Discovered

EAGLE LAKE, FL — Four Polk County high school students between the ages of 14-16 were taken out of Lake Region High School Thursday and are facing charges after an hours-long search turned up an unloaded .357 Magnum handgun and a bullet, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Three of the students were charged with felonies while the fourth was charged with two misdemeanors.

The investigation began around 9 a.m. Thursday when a student reported to the School Resource Deputy that a handgun was seen on campus.

A 16-year-old boy allegedly pointed the gun at another student, who then passed it to someone else.

"After an hours-long search and review of video surveillance, deputies located the gun in the possession of two female students," the sheriff's office said.

The high school was placed on lockdown while the campus was searched. The bullet was found in the backpack of a male student.

"The three students who were charged with felonies have previous arrests," the sheriff's office said. Patch is withholding the names of all of the students because of their ages.

The 16-year-old boy who allegedly pointed the gun at another student was charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds, possession of a concealed firearm, disruption of a school function, aggravated assault with a firearm, tampering with evidence, exhibition of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor.

A 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl were each charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds, possession of a concealed firearm, tampering with evidence, disruption of a school function and possession of a firearm by a minor.

A 15-year-old boy was charged with two misdemeanors.