Beaufort High student arrested after bringing gun to campus – The Island News – Beaufort, SC

By Delayna Earley

Island news

The Beaufort Police Department arrested a 16-year-old student who brought a firearm onto Beaufort High School property in his backpack.

According to a Beaufort County School District communication to parents, the man is a student at Beaufort High and was detained in the parking lot with a weapon just after 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

Beaufort High School Resource Officer Michael Chutjian requested backup from Beaufort City Police and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office after suspecting the student may have been armed with a weapon on the school property, according to a release from the Beaufort Police Department.

Beaufort City Police spokesperson Sgt. Lori Reeves said the student ran from Officer Chutijan before being arrested in the school's main parking lot.

A handgun was found in the student's backpack.

Law enforcement did not say whether the gun was loaded or if the student planned to use the gun on school grounds.

The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.

This is an ongoing investigation and Beaufort Police have asked anyone who may have additional information regarding this incident to contact Investigator Setian at 843-322-7928.

For those who wish to remain anonymous, call the anonymous tip line at 843-322-2938.

The school was closed while police arrested the suspect and conducted their on-site investigation.

The lockdown was fully lifted at the school shortly after 11:30 a.m. and police cleared the area.

Delayna Earley, WHO joined The Island News in 2022, previously worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be contacted at [email protected].