WALDORF, Md. — The Charles County Sheriff’s Office served search warrants at the residences of two students Thursday as authorities pressed forward with two separate but related investigations into firearms recovered at St. Charles High School.
The warrants were executed April 30 following recoveries that occurred on consecutive days at the Waldorf high school and prompted heightened safety measures across the campus.
In the first case, which began April 29, a school resource officer recovered a loaded ghost gun from a 15-year-old student on the St. Charles High School campus. The polymer 9mm handgun had no serial number. During the search the student attempted to push past an administrator and flee but was quickly apprehended. A vape containing THC was also recovered. The juvenile was taken into custody and referred to the Department of Juvenile Services. He faces charges that include possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, minor in possession of a firearm, possession of cannabis and other related offenses.
Investigators obtained and served a search warrant at the student’s home. During that search authorities seized a 3D printer believed to have been used in the production of the polymer-style firearm recovered at the school. The device was collected as evidence and will undergo further examination as part of the ongoing probe.
The second case unfolded April 30 when a fully automatic handgun was recovered from a different 15-year-old student’s locker at St. Charles High School. The loaded polymer handgun had been modified with a machine-gun conversion switch and was equipped with a 30-round magazine. A school administrator noticed the student acting suspiciously with a book bag and initiated the search that led to the discovery. A school resource officer took the juvenile into custody at the scene.
Following that recovery investigators served a search warrant at the second student’s residence. Officers recovered six additional firearms along with ammunition, magazines and various firearm accessories. Four of the firearms and all the recovered ammunition were located inside the juvenile’s bedroom. All of the firearms were found unsecured. Investigators also noted that the serial number on one of the firearms was partially obliterated. An investigation continues to determine how the juvenile obtained the firearms.
All evidence from both searches was collected and processed. Both cases remain active and will be forwarded to the State’s Attorney’s Office for review to determine the appropriate charges.
The back-to-back incidents at St. Charles High School prompted a full sweep of the building with assistance from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit and other partner agencies. No additional weapons were located. Students were dismissed early on April 30 as a precaution.
Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., who was visiting the school during the April 30 incident, praised staff and students for their quick actions that helped keep everyone safe. Navarro has urged parents, students, staff and the broader community to address the easy access young people have to firearms.
“Guns do not originate in schools; they come into schools from homes and from the community,” Navarro said. She called on parents and guardians to check their children’s rooms, monitor purchases and social media activity and continue conversations about safe choices. She asked public safety partners to provide greater education on how children access guns and expand programs such as the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Hope Trailer to include firearm awareness. Navarro also encouraged the community to restore Crime Solvers tip boxes in schools, increase adult accountability when guns reach minors and provide more male mentors for students, citing successful models at Westlake High School and the DADvisory initiative.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office continues to work closely with school officials and partner agencies as the investigations move forward. Officials said the agency remains committed to the safety and well-being of all students and staff.
Anyone with information about these cases or knowledge of weapons in schools may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app. The investigations remain ongoing.
