Release posted on 5/19/2023 at 11:48 a.m.

A 16-year-old 11th-grader and a 15-year-old ninth-grader at Gibbs High School have been arrested and charged with possession of a weapon on school property, a felony. 

 About 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 18th, school resource officers at Gibbs High School, 850 34th St. S., were notified about a fight in a boy's restroom. 

Officers saw the 15-year-old boy walk out of the restroom and hand a backpack to a second student identified as the 16-year-old boy. The 16-year-old took off running and left campus. 

 Officers on patrol in the area located the 16-year-old boy walking nearby and also found the backpack with a handgun inside. The gun was secured by police officers. 

 Both students were taken into custody. 

 St. Petersburg police make the safety of students a top priority and any weapon on campus, or other threat to school safety, will be thoroughly investigated. This serves as a reminder to students that the police department takes these matters very seriously and the consequences could be severe.