Homeland Security Questions Teen Who Brought Gun to School: Police

Police say the 17-year-old is a student at De La Salle in Town.

A 17-year-old student is being questioned by Homeland Security detectives after investigators say he brought a loaded gun to a Philadelphia private school Monday morning.

Police say they were called to De La Salle in Town School at 25 S. Van Pelt Street in Center City around 9 a.m. shortly after classes started. The school's director, Charles Gaus, told police alarms went off when the student walked through the metal detectors. When school officials searched him, they found a loaded gun in his jacket.

"I'm not sure what happened with him or what reason he had it," said Gaus. "But in the morning as we were greeting them, that was identified. We do have a process to keep the building safe and I think the system worked well this morning. He remained calm during the process."

Police are not releasing the boy's name due to the fact that he is a minor. Detectives say he is being charged because he violated several gun laws. Detectives with the Philadelphia Homeland Security Unit are currently questioning the teen. They have not yet revealed why he brought the gun to the school in the first place.

No one was injured during the incident.

De La Salle in Town is an alternative school for students who have been arrested. The records of the students are wiped clean by a judge as long as they agree to go through programs at the school.

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