HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — A Hernando County teenager is in the juvenile detention center, accused of taking the same gun to school he had in a stolen car.
Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the situation started Jan. 12 when the 16-year-old Springstead High School student was found with a stolen vehicle and pushed a deputy when trying to flee from that scene.
The sheriff said that on Jan. 16, students at Springstead High School reported to school resource officers that a gun was brought on a school bus. The sheriff says it was the same teen with the same gun from the Jan. 12 incident.
He said that same gun was found to be involved in the Jan. 31 accidental shooting of a 17-year-old. The teen is not involved in that shooting.
The sheriff and Hernando County Schools superintendent say they commend the students for coming forward but encourage reporting such incidents immediately. They suggest parents have conversations with their children about guns and threats.
"My conversation would center around reporting it and if you were on that bus and you knew about it, you have an obligation to keep everybody safe," said Superintendent John Stratton. "Report it, obviously all of the wheels go into motion as soon as we know about something like that, there’s nothing more serious than keeping them safe out there."
The State Attorney’s Office will determine if the teen will be charged as an adult. Spectrum News will not name the suspect due to our crime guidelines.