13-year-old boy brings loaded handgun to school in Lillington

STAR Academy of Lillington was on a Code Red lockdown Monday morning after a 13-year-old boy brought a loaded gun to school.

WRAL News received a tip from a student at 11 a.m. Before 11:30 a.m., a spokesperson from Harnett County Schools told WRAL News officials were "investigating a situation involving a weapon on campus at Star Academy. For safety precautions, the school is on temporary lockdown."

By Monday afternoon., investigators recovered the weapon: A loaded 45-caliber handgun in a boy's backpack.

Police plan to take out juvenile petitions against that teen.

As investigators try to figure out how he got a a hold of the gun, they are also interviewing his family members to determine if any adults will face charges.

This is now the second loaded gun found on a Harnett County school campus in the last 10 days.

On February 17, an SRO found one in the backpack of a 9-year-old at Erwin Elementary.

WRAL has learned that student's 30-year-old uncle is charged with failing to store a firearm to protect a minor.

Now, with two guns found inside schools in less than two weeks, Harnett County School leaders are looking at adding a weapon detection system to increase security on campuses.

Harnett County Schools considering adding weapons detection system

Harnett County Schools are considering adding weapons detection systems in their schools after a string of social media threat against schools in surrounding counties.

Schools across the state are spending millions in school security, ranging anywhere form added police presence to high-tech weapon detections systems.

Harnett County is the the latest to discuss adding extra security in their schools, joining Wake County. Security upgrades are already in process in Granville, Johnston and Person County schools.

The school system's security director will present that proposal to the school board at its meeting one week from Monday.

Podcast: Beyond metal detectors - solving school security

Listen to WRAL Education Reporter Emily Walkenhorst explain how things such as tip hotlines, antibullying programs and door locks could provide some of the best defense in school security.