A routine school morning in Emmaus turned serious on Wednesday when a student at Emmaus High School in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, was found carrying a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, now believed to be a ghost gun. The weapon was discovered during a search shortly before 10:30 a.m., and authorities say the student never pointed the gun at anyone or made threats. No injuries were reported. Officials said the pistol appeared to be a ghost gun because it had no serial number and was not purchased through the normal course of firearms commerce, as per CBS News Philadelphia.
District Attorney Gavin Holihan and Emmaus Police Deputy Chief Bryan Hamscher described the recovery in a news release, according to CBS News Philadelphia. The station reported that the firearm, a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, was found on the student during an unrelated search at Emmaus High School. Police are not identifying the minor as the case moves through juvenile court.
How Police Say The Weapon Was Recovered
Emmaus police say officers located the firearm on the student during a search connected to an unrelated investigation at the school. Deputy Chief Bryan Hamscher is listed as the department’s deputy chief on the Borough of Emmaus website, and the East Penn School District lists Emmaus High School at 500 Macungie Avenue. Authorities said the juvenile was taken into custody and that the investigation remains active.
What Authorities Mean By “Ghost Gun”
Federal regulators define a ghost gun, often called a privately made firearm, as a weapon without a serial number that cannot be traced through normal commercial channels, a distinction clarified in ATF rulemaking. As the Associated Press has noted, ghost guns have shown up more frequently at crime scenes and drawn heightened attention from law enforcement and policymakers. The ATF explains that privately made firearms and kits fall under federal regulation when they are readily assembled into functioning weapons.
Legal Consequences
According to CBS News Philadelphia, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office has filed felony weapons charges against the juvenile in juvenile court. Police said they are not identifying the minor. Juvenile cases often follow different procedures than adult prosecutions, and many details are handled in closed proceedings. The DA’s office and Emmaus police say the investigation is ongoing…