New Hanover High School Student arrested after gun allegedly found in bag
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — An arrest has been made of an 18-year-old student at New Hanover High School after he allegedly had a stolen gun in his bag.
According to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Elijah Lesine, 18, is charged with possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a weapon on school grounds, and carrying a concealed firearm.
The sheriff’s office says a school resource officer and a K9 found a stolen 9mm handgun in Lesine’s backpack on Thursday.
Lesine was taken into custody without incident and received a 5000 dollar bond.
He is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon.
New Hanover County Schools released a statement:
“New Hanover High School administrators and law enforcement worked together to conduct a proactive K-9-assisted safety check. During the process, a firearm was safely confiscated from a student’s bag.
No threats were made, and thanks to the swift, coordinated efforts of school administrators, SROs, and the K-9 unit, the situation was handled without incident.
As part of our strong partnership with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) and our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment, New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) continues to collaborate closely with the NHCSO School Resource Officer (SRO) unit to support student safety across our campuses.
We are grateful for the professionalism of our law enforcement partners and the continued support of our families. Together, we are strengthening our shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every student and staff member.”
