BLYTHEWOOD – A 14-year-old student was arrested after it was determined that the student was in possession of a 4-inch knife on school grounds at Blythewood High School, according to a press release issued by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
On Monday, Aug. 19, at approximately 8:30 a.m., a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Blythewood High School was notified by school administration of the 14-year-old suspect having a book bag with a knife inside.
The SRO was able to determine that Defender Security stopped the suspect before entering the school after the metal detector alerted on the suspect’s bag. Security escorted the suspect to a school administrator who confirmed the presence of a knife in the bag. The SRO secured the knife and school administration contacted the students’ parents, according the Sheriff Leon Lott.
The 14-year-old suspect was taken into custody and charged with Carrying Weapons on school property. The suspect was then released to the suspect’s parents.
Immediately following the incident, Blythewood High School sent an email to parent of all BHS students, as follows:
I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to inform you of an incident that occurred during our routine safety screenings this morning.
Our security staff successfully intercepted a knife in a student’s bag, preventing it from entering our school premises. While this news may be concerning, I want to assure you that our safety protocols functioned precisely as intended, demonstrating their effectiveness in maintaining a secure learning environment.
We are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness and following all established procedures. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority, and today’s event underscores the importance of our security measures.
I understand you may have questions or concerns regarding this incident. Our administrative team and I are available to address any inquiries you may have. We value open communication with our school community and are committed to maintaining Blythewood High School as a safe haven for education.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in our safety efforts. Together, we can ensure a secure and nurturing environment for our students to thrive.
