Rickards High student found on campus with steak knife; metal detectors at Leon High

A 17-year-old female student at Rickards High School was arrested for having a steak knife in her backpack on Friday, according to the Leon County Sheriff's office spokesperson Shonda Knight.

A press release from LCSO said the school resource deputy was made aware of a student in "possession of a dangerous weapon on campus," which prompted the search. It was also noted that the student smelled of marijuana. No further details about the incident were immediately available.

It is the third weapon confiscated on campus since the school year began earlier this month.

The Rickards arrest comes a day after a loaded handgun was found in the parked car of a 16-year-old Leon High School student in the East Tennessee Street school's parking lot.

And two weeks ago, a 15-year-old Leon High student was arrested for having pepper spray and a stun gun on campus − only four days into the new school year.

Leon High School searches bags, puts in metal detectors

District officials and sheriff's deputies performed an unannounced search of some Leon High students entering the building Friday morning. They were required to go through a set of metal detectors and submit to a bag search.

"This is a random deterrent, so our students won't be aware of when it's going to happen," district spokesperson Chris Petley told the Tallahassee Democrat. There were no searches at other high schools Friday. Petley said the search was a success with no delays and no weapons or banned objects seized.

"Our campuses are weapons-free. You cannot bring a weapon to our schools," Petley said. Also, there are security cameras in the student parking lot.

The student arrested Thursday was charged with felony possession of a weapon on campus and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

In that case, acting on an anonymous tip, a school resource deputy alerted the school administration around 12:30 p.m.

A search was conducted of the 16-year-old's car and administrators found a BB gun. Once deputies arrived on the scene, they conducted a further investigation of the car where they found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun.

Aside from facing legal action, the student will also be disciplined in accordance with the Leon Schools Code of Conduct, which says any student who brings firearms on campus will be expelled.

The FortifyFL app is available to anonymously report any suspicious Leon County School related activity or reports can be taken by calling 850-922-KIDS.

Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com . Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3 .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Rickards High student found on campus with steak knife; metal detectors at Leon High