Student arrested on gun charge

By John Howell
The Batesville Police Department has charged three juveniles in connection with a handgun found at South Panola High School Wednesday.
“If they touched it and didn’t report it, we’re going to charge them,” Police Chief Jimmy McCloud said. “If a student knows about a gun and doesn’t report it, they’re wrong,” he added.
“School resource officers located an unloaded firearm on a student at South Panola High School on the ninth-grade campus Wednesday, March 8, at approximately 1:45 p.m., the South Panola School District stated in a press release. “The student was taken into custody by the Batesville Police Department. Two other students face possible school discipline action relating to the incident.
“All students were safe and unharmed,” according to the news release.
“The safety of our students, faculty and staff is the number one priority of the South Panola School District,” SPSD Superintendent Tim Wilder said.
“We are working in conjunction with the Batesville Police Department and we will take appropriate action to ensure this is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. South Panola School District policy states that any student found in possession of a firearm will face the recommendation of expulsion from school,” Wilder said.
McCloud said that the handgun held a magazine but no rounds and that no rounds were found on any of the students questioned or charged.
“We’re continuing the investigation,” the police chief said, to determine if more will be charged.