Teen Arrested After Stolen Gun Found in Nashville High School Backpack

Two separate incidents involving students bringing prohibited firearm-related items to school were reported in November 2025. At Decatur High School in Alabama, a student was removed from campus after a gun magazine was found in his backpack by the school's OpenGate weapons detection system; the student fled but later returned home and is facing disciplinary action. Meanwhile, in Nashville, Tennessee, a 16-year-old student at James Lawson High School was arrested after a stolen pistol, along with an extended magazine and loose ammunition, was detected in his backpack by the school's Evolv detection system. The firearm had been reported stolen in a 2017 home burglary, and the student faces charges for bringing a gun on school property and juvenile weapon possession. Both schools credited their weapons detection systems for preventing potentially dangerous situations and emphasized cooperation with law enforcement. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges of school safety and the role of technology in addressing them.