A tense moment at East Wake High School in Wendell ended quietly Tuesday morning after staff discovered a student carrying a loaded gun on campus. A school employee alerted the school resource officer, who helped locate the student and confiscate the firearm without any struggle. No one was hurt, and officials say juvenile petitions are expected to be filed.
Sheriff Willie Rowe publicly praised the staff member who spoke up and thanked school resource officers for moving quickly to secure the weapon, according to WRAL. The sheriff’s office said it is investigating the incident and is not releasing the student’s name because the student is a minor.
East Wake administrators followed up with a message to families stressing that “all students are safe” and explaining that Wake County Public School System staff worked with deputies to remove the gun, according to ABC11. The district also reminded parents that state law requires a 365‑day suspension for students found with firearms and urged families to keep guns secured at home, noting that students can report concerns through an anonymous tip line or the Say Something app.
What the law requires
North Carolina law calls for a 365‑day suspension for any student determined to have brought or possessed a firearm on educational property, although a superintendent can modify that penalty in limited circumstances, according to the N.C. General Assembly. The statute also requires districts to notify families about a student’s readmission rights and to consider alternative educational services for suspended students.
Context and statewide response
The gun discovery at East Wake comes as state and local leaders push a broader safe-storage message following a series of campus incidents. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety recently launched the NC S.A.F.E. for Schools campaign with Wake County to get safety resources into the hands of families and school communities, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety. Local reporting has documented other recent weapon finds on campuses across the Triangle, which officials say highlight the need for constant vigilance and secure storage, as WRAL has reported.
How families can report concerns
Wake County Public Schools maintains an anonymous tip line at 919‑856‑1911 and safety resources on its website, including an online form and guidance on safe gun storage, according to the Wake County Public School System. The district urges families to keep firearms locked and out of reach and to remind students that they can report safety concerns through the tip line or the Say Something app…