Second student caught with loaded gun at high school in as many weeks, Santa Rosa police say

For the second time in as many weeks, a teenager has been arrested at a high school in Santa Rosa for having a loaded handgun on campus, authorities say.

A 16-year-old student at Montgomery High School was arrested Wednesday after the discovery of a loaded handgun in his school locker, according to Santa Rosa police.

The teen is being held in juvenile hall on suspicion of possession of a loaded handgun on campus and being a minor in possession.

Last week, on Oct. 24, Santa Rosa police said they arrested another 16-year-old student, this time at Elsie Allen High School, who was found with a loaded handgun and ammunition in his backpack.

No injuries were reported in either incident and each of the weapons was seized by police.

In Wednesday’s incident at Montgomery High, police said they were called to the school shortly before 10:45 a.m. after an administrator said there had been a report of a potential firearm on campus.

The report came from a notification on the STOPit app, which, according to its creator, allows students to anonymously report incidents of at-risk behaviors such as bullying or cyberabuse.

The notification said three 16-year-old male students might have a firearm, officials said, adding that school administrators immediately got police involved.

Responding police officers found and initially detained all three boys. However, after questioning, only one of them was determined to possess a weapon, officials said.

A handgun and loaded magazine were recovered from the boy’s locker, officials said.

In a note sent Wednesday to parents of Montgomery High School students, Principal April Santos said the initial tip to the STOPit app also contained a picture of the gun.

“Students who bring weapons to campus will be held accountable for their actions by the school, and law enforcement will be contacted,” Santos said. “Law enforcement and school officials have placed consequences on the students, holding them accountable for their actions.”

She added that in a second, unrelated incident on-campus Wednesday, “Two students with a history of conflict got into an altercation, which was quickly de-escalated by staff. Both students are currently being addressed, and appropriate consequences are being assigned.

“Despite the earlier incidents, the campus was secure, and all involved students were addressed. The rest of the student body had continued with their day as usual,” Santos said.

Contact Staff Writer Anna Armstrong at 707-521-5255 or anna.armstrong@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @annavarmstrongg.