News Summary
A female student at Whale Branch Early College High School in Seabrook, South Carolina has been charged with two felonies after a loaded gun was found in her backpack. The situation arose during a routine search following an incident involving her boyfriend, who was on probation and found with a pistol magazine. The case highlights a disturbing trend of firearm incidents within Beaufort County schools as student safety remains a critical concern.
Seabrook, South Carolina – A female student at Whale Branch Early College High School has been charged with two felonies after a loaded gun was discovered in her backpack during a routine search on May 16. The charges include possessing a weapon on school property and possessing a stolen firearm. This incident marks a concerning trend, as public schools in Beaufort County have experienced an increase in firearm-related incidents recently.
School officials at Whale Branch High School alerted law enforcement after finding an empty pistol magazine on the female student’s boyfriend, who was present at the time. Although he was found with the magazine, he was not charged criminally. The boy, however, was already on probation for a previous incident and was wearing an ankle monitor when he attempted to escape before police arrived. He was located near the front office shortly after fleeing.
Following the incident with her boyfriend, the school principal conducted a search of the female student, leading to the discovery of the loaded gun. Both students involved in the incident, due to their minor status, have not been publicly identified, and neither spoke with law enforcement during the investigation.
This alarming event is part of a broader issue within South Carolina, where officials have reported a rise in threats of violence against schools, most of which have been deemed unsubstantiated. Last fall, over 20 students statewide faced charges related to these threats. In a separate incident just 11 days after the Whale Branch occurrence, a student at Lady’s Island Middle School was found with 15 pieces of handgun ammunition in their backpack. Similar to the Whale Branch incident, that student was disciplined according to school policy but did not face criminal charges.
The stolen gun discovered in the Whale Branch student’s backpack originated from Port Royal. The female student has since been taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia due to the severity of the charges she faces. Whale Branch High School, which serves around 450 students and is classified as a Title I school, is located off U.S. 21 in the Seabrook area.
Lt. Daniel Allen from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the important role public tips play in identifying potential safety threats within schools. Community members are encouraged to report any concerns or threats anonymously through the P3 Tips app or Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County.
This incident raises significant concerns about the presence of firearms in schools and the ongoing safety of students and staff across the state. The school district continues to take measures to ensure the safety and security of its environment.
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Additional Resources
- Island Packet: Crime Report
- Wikipedia: Firearm
- Your Island News: Teen Murder Case
- Google Search: school violence South Carolina
- Island Packet: Beaufort News
- Google Scholar: school safety
- Island Packet: Local Crime Updates
- Encyclopedia Britannica: public school safety
- Your Island News: Whale Branch Threat
- Google News: Beaufort County school incident
