HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — A 16-year-old student faces charges after bringing a gun onto campus at Phoebus High School, with its principal stressing that no one was in any danger.
Police say it started around 8 a.m. Thursday as students were filing into the building, with Phoebus High Principal David Coccoli saying it happened during a routine weapons detection check, and a security guard “swiftly intervened and immediately confiscated the weapon” from a 16-year-old student. Police say that’s when the student ran off.
Phoebus High Principal David Coccoli said it happened during a routine weapons detection check and a security guard “swiftly intervened and immediately confiscated the weapon.”
Police did not have information about why the student had the gun, but said the investigation is ongoing.
“That’s kind of thought provoking within itself that they were willing to risk, you know, getting caught over whatever situation he had on his mind,” said gun safety advocate Thomas Alston, who runs Deen Ball Sports, a non-profit that helps kids learn coping skills like conflict resolution while also promoting gun safety.
The student was later found by police at their home and taken into custody without incident. They’re facing a charge of possession of a firearm on school property.
“With my organization, Deen Ball Sports, we promote safe storage,” Alston said, “and if parents can just do their part with storing your firearms safely, maybe it’ll prevent another one from happening in the future.”
He said it’s going to take a lot to get to the root of the problem, but he has a few suggestions.
“It’s going to be a combination of multiple solutions. Whether it’s providing more school counselors in the school that can maybe intervene earlier, maybe see some signs. And have some peer mediation where we encourage our friends and peers to see something, say something.”
A statement from Hampton City Public Schools reads in part:
“A safe learning environment is the top priority of our school division. As such, Hampton City Schools has systems in place to take a strong, proactive approach to further enhance safety and security in our schools.”
This is the message that went out to Phoebus families:
Good morning, this is David Coccoli, the executive principal at Phoebus High School. At Phoebus, we take the education and safety of our young people very seriously. As such, I would like to inform you of a situation that occurred this morning.
During our routine safety procedures while utilizing our weapons detection units as students arrived, a firearm was found in a student’s possession. A school security officer swiftly intervened and immediately confiscated the weapon. While this was occurring, the student fled the school grounds. Please know that HCS is collaborating with the Hampton Police Division as they work to apprehend the identified student.
At no time was there a threat to the school or any students or staff. This is currently an ongoing HPD investigation, and based on their findings, HPD will charge the student appropriately. While I cannot provide details about student discipline, please know that the student will not be on school grounds and will be disciplined according to the HCS Student’s Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
The safety and security of our students and staff are our top priorities, and we will continue to take the necessary measures to ensure our schools remain safe. We appreciate the partnership with our students and families in maintaining the safety we all desire for our school. Thank you.
David Coccoli, Executive Principal
A link to their safety precautions and procedures can be found here:
And if you would like to help or donate to Thomas Allston’s non-profit, you can do so by going to Deenballsports.com or donating to his cashapp $aberdeenfb.