As of Thursday, November 17, 2011
© Copyright 2013
Gwinnett Daily Post
SNELLVILLE -- School police acting on a tip found a handgun in a Shiloh High School freshman's bookbag and arrested him on felony charges this week, officials said.
Snellville resident Derrick Wattenbarger remained jailed Thursday on a charge of possession of a weapon on school property. In a letter to parents, Shiloh principal Gwen Tatum called the incident rare and commended school police for handling it quickly.
A school resource officer pulled Wattenbarger from class about 8 a.m. Wednesday after receiving information he could be carrying a weapon. Wattenbarger was escorted to an isolated area, where the officer found a .380 caliber automatic handgun in a bookbag he was carrying, according to a school police report.
In addition to criminal charges, Wattenbarger will be disciplined at school, said Jorge Quintana, Gwinnett Public Schools spokesman.
Wattenbarger was being held Thursday on $5,700 bond at the Gwinnett County Jail.
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