A student found in possession of a handgun at R.J. Reynolds High School Thursday has been arrested. Officials with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office say the student was charged with having a weapon on school grounds, after a school resource officer received a tip.
This is the sixth time this year that a firearm has been found at a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school, and the second such incident at R.J. Reynolds High School.
Guns have also been found this year at Paisley IB Magnet School, Parkland High School, and Mount Tabor High School — which was the site of a shooting that left one student dead on September 1.
Eight incidents involving guns or violence have been reported at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools since the school year began about eight weeks ago.
In a statement, Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough noted that these incidents have become "the weekly narrative," and said more should be done to address gun violence.
District Superintendent Tricia McManus says they're focusing on prevention strategies, including hiring a national school safety expert and hosting community forums to address students' emotional well-being.