ANDERSON, Ind. — Anderson police detained and arrested a 15-year old male student at Anderson High School on Thursday after school leaders found him with a loaded handgun.
Shortly after 10:30 a.m., Anderson schools shared a message in reference to a "potential threat" planned for Friday, Nov. 18 that was circulating on social media.
Superintendent Dr. Joe Cronk said it all started Thursday afternoon with an Instagram post going around school stating there was a student with a gun.
"There were some Instagram posts going around of the student in the school. We investigated. We found the student did have a gun. We were able to disarm that student and call the Anderson Police Department," Cronk said.
Cronk said everyone was safe and no shots were fired. The school was put on lockdown and dismissal was staggered.
On Friday morning, Anderson police confirmed to 13News that the student was arrested and was in custody at Madison County Juvenile Detention. Police said the student will remain in secure detention until his initial hearing, which is scheduled for next month.
Out of precaution, the school said additional law enforcement will be at schools.
"Since school shootings became a sadly more frequent event, we run down every single lead that we get. Every social media post, every rumor of a social media post," said Cronk.
Cronk said safety is of the utmost importance.
"Parents send us the best that they have and our job is to educate and to send them home safe and that's what we do every single day," said Cronk.
Anderson High School and the D26 Career Center will be closed Friday, Nov. 18 to allow staff to thoroughly search the buildings. Students at those schools will return to class Monday, Nov. 21, with increased security measures in place.
All other school buildings will be open on Friday.