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Student faces charges after bringing handgun on West High School's campus, KPD says

West High School was placed on a hard lockdown as a precaution as its school resource officer, Knox County school security officers and Knoxville Police responded.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A student is in custody and will face charges after bringing a stolen handgun on West High School's campus Tuesday afternoon, according to the Knoxville Police Department.

KPD said the West High's school resource officer and Knox County school security officers were told that a student possibly had a gun on campus.

While officials investigated the threat, West High was placed on a hard lockdown as a precaution.

Officers eventually detained the student and confiscated the handgun, KPD said.

After the student was placed in custody, West High received a call of a possible threat. That threat is not believed to be related to the student who was caught with a handgun, KPD said. 

Police did not find evidence to suggest the threat was credible and the lockdown was lifted at around 2:15 p.m.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk thanked the principal, school security team and KPD for their response. He provided 10News with a statement below:

"Earlier today, West High School was made aware of the potential presence of a weapon on campus. Thanks to the immediate response of onsite school security, KPD was able to immediately confiscate the weapon and take a suspect into custody. 

The school received a subsequent call regarding a threat on campus. Out of an abundance of caution, we moved the school into hard lockdown to allow for a thorough investigation by our law enforcement partners. I want to thank Principal Speas and her staff, our school security team, and KPD for their swift response. 

Today was a perfect example of our systems and partnerships working to preserve the safety and security of our students, staff, and schools."

Authorities are continuing the investigation to identify the source of the threat.

This is a developing story.

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