Lehigh Acres teen faces 3 charges after school resource officer finds loaded handgun at DJB Technical Academy

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (WINK) — A 16-year-old student was arrested after authorities found a loaded handgun hidden in bushes along the fence line at DJB Technical Academy in Lehigh Acres on Monday.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office said the school's resource officer, observed the student walking from the parking lot and leaving campus through the front entrance.

The SRO watched the student walk along the bushes of the school's perimeter fence, bending over and causing the bushes to sway, before re-entering the campus and heading into the building.

The SRO said he walked outside the perimeter to investigate the behavior. A school staff member accompanied him. They found a brown leather bag hidden under a bush where Robles had been seen. Inside the bag was a black Taurus 9mm handgun.

After discovering the gun, the SRO said he secured it in his patrol vehicle and placed the school on lockdown. He then located the student in room 102, placed him in handcuffs and escorted him to the patrol vehicle.

An LCSO deputy rendered the firearm safe and counted 12 live 9mm cartridges inside the magazine.

Multiple deputies from the 2nd Precinct arrived on scene and conducted a secondary safety sweep of the school's interior and exterior to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Detectives with the School Threat Enforcement Team responded and took over the investigation.

LCSO reviewed school security footage, which allegedly showed the student arriving on campus in a white SUV, walking off school property and then returning.

A second camera captured the student allegedly walking along the school fence line, placing an unknown object inside the bush, then walking back toward the campus entrance.

LCSO obtained a sworn statement from the student in the presence of his father.

Authorities read the student his Miranda rights, and he agreed to speak without a lawyer present. LCSO also conducted a threat assessment and a Baker Act evaluation with the student, which revealed no concerns. Authorities said the 16-year-old did not meet the criteria for a Baker Act.

LCSO contacted the owner of the firearm, who said he had left the gun on top of a fridge at a friend's residence and forgot to retrieve it. The owner did not give anyone permission to take the firearm. He completed and signed a waiver of prosecution.

The firearm was run through the Lee County Sheriff's Office dispatch system and came back clear of being reported stolen or lost. It was submitted into evidence along with the security footage.

The school was in lockdown for approximately one hour due to the incident.

The student was arrested on three charges: possession of a firearm on school property, disruption of a school function and unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor.

He was transported to Lee County Sheriff's Office headquarters in apparent good health to await transport to jail.