EDGEWATER, Md. (WUSA9) -- A high school student is charged with possessing a deadly weapon on school property after forgetting to remove a shotgun from his vehicle after a hunting trip.
Officials were notified by a school administer of what appeared to be a shotgun in plain view, but partially covered by an article of clothing on the back seat, during a routine inspection for vehicles without permits in the South River High School parking lot in Edgewater, Md.
School personnel quickly identified the student, removed him from class and kept him away from other students during the investigation, police said.
Officers retrieved an unloaded 12-gauge shotgun and several loose rounds of ammunition from the back seat of the vehicle, police said. Two prescription pills not belonging to the student were also seized.
Investigation revealed the student had been hunting previously and forgot to remove the weapon from the vehicle. Police said the hunting took place off-campus and outside school hours.
No students or staff were threatened and there is no evidence to suggest the student intended to harm anyone.
The student, 18-year-old Patrick Mitchell, was arrested and charged as an adult with possession of a deadly weapon on school property and CDS possession.
