ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A 17-year-old student at Ritenour High School is facing charges after police said he brought a loaded, stolen, semi-automatic weapon to school Wednesday.
Jaylen Ashby, 17, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon — carrying a loaded weapon in a school — and receiving stolen property in connection with the Wednesday incident.
School leaders said an assistant principal noticed that a student had a gun in his backpack and confiscated it. The assistant principal then turned the weapon over to the school's resource officer.
While talking to the school resource officer, Ashby said he knew the gun was stolen and admitted to carrying int into the school. Charging documents said the gun was a loaded, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Both charges are felonies.
The school released the following statement after the Wednesday afternoon:
"This morning, upon a student’s arrival, a Ritenour High School (RHS) assistant principal discovered that a RHS student had a gun in their backpack. Upon discovery of the weapon, the administrator immediately confiscated it and contacted the school’s resource officers who are members of the St. Ann Police Department.
The student was removed from the school by the school resource officers and was arrested by Breckenridge Hills Police. The student was not using the gun to threaten students; it was located in their backpack.
The student involved in the incident is receiving discipline according to district policy, which calls for the suspension or expulsion of the student possessing a weapon on school property.
This is an unfortunate incident, and the student made a poor decision. Ritenour High School is a safe place for students. We place a high value on student safety and discipline."
