Man Brought Loaded Gun Into Morristown High School, Police Say

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A former student at Morristown High School, now a 20-year-old man, was arrested on school grounds this month after police say he brought a loaded handgun inside the school. The gun was in the man's satchel, officials said.

Vincent Phinn III was charged with second-degree possession of a handgun without a permit, third-degree possession of a firearm on school grounds without authority and fourth-degree possession of a defaced firearm. He is being held at the Morris County jail.

On May 8, surveillance video and photos captured a man entering an apartment building at 28 Clyde Potts Drive in Morristown, and removing what appeared to be a two-tone handgun from his waistband, according to information from officials. He concealed the firearm in a green tote bag and left the area, said Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty.

The photos and video were distributed to all Morristown police personnel in a safety memo.

Then, on May 15, the same man entered the high school. He was there to obtain his academic transcripts, said the mayor. Morristown High School School Resource Officer Christopher Little recognized him from the previously issued safety memo and immediately took action to detain him, the mayor said.

Little placed the man under arrest. He was searched and a search revealed a two-tone Smith & Wesson handgun concealed in his bag, said police. The firearm, which was defaced, contained a loaded magazine, though there was no round in the chamber.