A pellet gun in a student’s backpack led to a Thursday morning lockdown at Rush Strong Elementary School in Strawberry Plains, according to Director of Jefferson County Schools Tommy Arnold.

Arnold said a lockdown was instituted seconds after a student reported seeing a gun in another student’s backpack.

A School Resource Officer located the student, the backpack and the pellet gun.

The SRO removed the student from class to a secure location and confiscated the gun, at which point the officer determined that it was a pellet gun.  

“At no time was any student or staff hurt or in immediate danger,” Arnold said. “We are thankful for the student who reported the suspicious activity as well as for the staff and students at Rush Strong School who immediately implemented their safety plan.”

Arnold said additional counselors are available to meet with Rush Strong students.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the 13 year old male was charged with threats of mass destruction on school property, and was taken  to the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detection Center in Knoxville.