WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A Pasco County high school student is charged with a felony after bringing a pellet gun to school.

  • Deputies: Student took pictures of himself with gun, posted to Snapchat
  • Other students saw suspect with gun, reported to resource officers
  • Suspect charged with 3rd degree felony
  • More Pasco County stories

Deputies arrested the 16-year-old freshman at Cypress Creek High in Wesley Chapel on Tuesday. 

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said the student took photos of himself with the gun and posted them on Snapchat.

Other students saw it and reported it to teachers, who reported it to the school resource officers. 

Deputies found the student and searched him, found the gun in his waistband and made the arrest. 

Sgt. John Dill said students did the right thing by reporting it. 

“The great thing about this incident is that when students found out about it they told a teacher, who immediately told the SRO," Dill said. "It gave them the opportunity to respond, right then and there, no delay. Within moments, we could deem the school safe."

Even though a specific threat wasn’t made and the gun turned out to be non-lethal, it is still a third degree felony to bring it onto campus. 

Deputies say it’s a warning to anyone that there are serious consequences to bringing any kind of gun to school. 

“If you know it’s a fake gun, I may not,” Dill said. “And when I’m faced with a potential gun, and in this case it’s represented to be a weapon, to us, that’s real.”

Pasco County Schools won’t discuss an individual student’s punishment. However, according to school policy, a weapon in school can lead up to a 10-day suspension and possible expulsion.

The school was not placed on lockdown. The parents of the student are also cooperating with the charge.