DCSD conducting random weapon searches on campuses


The DeKalb County School District (DCSD)  police is conducting random searches to deter students from brining weapons, illegal substances and other contraband to school campuses.

“The safety and security of students and staff continue to be our number one priority at DeKalb County School District. As a continuing proactive effort, random searches will be conducted on our high school campuses throughout the school year.  The searches are intended to serve as a deterrent to weapons, illegal substances, and other contraband as identified in the student code of conduct,” the district said in a news release.

The announcement of the school district’s determent plan follows two incidents in one week involving guns on district campuses. A student at Columbia High School was arrested on Sept. 25 after administrators discovered the student had a loaded gun . Officials said school police found the gun during a “search and safety drill.”

A second gun was found on the same day at Cedar Grove High School. Officials said a school employee was putting something into a student’s backpack and noticed what appeared to be a weapon. Authorities said school officials retrieved a gun, which was not loaded.

Since the new school year began, a total of five gun discoveries have been made on DeKalb school campuses.  In addition to the recent incidents, two other students at Columbia High were arrested on Sept. 19 after one of them was discovered carrying a loaded handgun, authorities said.

Earlier this month,  Lithonia High School was placed on lockdown after a student pulled a gun on a fellow student.

In August, police recovered a gun after Stephenson High School was placed on lockdown following a report that a student had a gun. Police arrested a 14-year-old student.