GAHANNA - A student is in police custody after he allegedly brought a loaded gun to Gahanna Lincoln High School Tuesday.
Gahanna police say 18-year-old senior Marshall Francis carried the gun in his bookbag into Clark Hall, the secondary facility located across the street from the main high school.
Another student reported seeing the gun to a school resource officer.
“I think it’s a quintessential example of “if you see something, say something”. And in this instance, this brave student did just that,” said Lt. Ethan Moffitt. “The student became aware of this potential threat and immediately advised both police and school staff so that we could coordinate in an appropriate response to it.”
Officers located Francis and took him into custody along with the firearm.
Jennifer Hayes has an 11th grader at Gahanna Lincoln. She says she was shocked to hear that a gun made its way into her daughter’s school.
“I mean you hear about it around, different, various schools, but I always felt Gahanna is such a small knit community and has that small town feel,” she said. “As a parent I shouldn’t have to worry about these type of issues with my daughter’s well-being and her safety.”
Gahanna school officials released a short statement, saying there was no threat made to the school, students or staff and that safety is their top priority.
Police say Francis will be charged in Franklin County Municipal Court with illegal conveyance of a firearm into a school safety zone. He is set to appear in court on Wednesday.