Parents voice concerns after gun found at football game; student facing charges

ABINGTON TWP., Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A community meeting was held at Cheltenham High School Monday night after a gun was found during a football game in Abington Township last week.

Abington Township police said a 17-year-old Cheltenham High School senior brought a gun to the game last Friday. They said he has been detained since being arrested.

SEE ALSO: Juvenile arrested for bringing loaded gun to Montgomery County football game

Cheltenham school officials said they are not able to share specifics about the student. However, they said district policy states any student who brings a firearm to a school-sponsored event "shall be expelled, for a period of not less than one year."

Police said just after halftime of the game, a mother told an officer she saw a gun in the stands.

Officers said they worked to identify who had the gun, and then they devised a plan to approach the person in question.

Officer Raymond Townsend said, "We notified our supervisors, 'Hey, this is what we got. We're going to make contact with this gentleman.'"

Jordan Jones, an Abington High School resource officer, said he approached the teenager and put his hand on his shoulder.

"He ducked down and reached for his waistband," Jones said. "I 100% believe this man was going for the gun. Had he got the gun out, it could have been much more catastrophic than the way it ended."

Jones said officers took the student to the ground and then arrested him.

An emergency meeting was held at the Cheltenham High School for parents to voice concerns.

"I want more in advance metal detectors, clear backpacks, searches. If the children exit the building, check them when they come back in," said Courtney Pender.

Cheltenham Superintendent Dr. Brian Scriven says this Thursday evening's home game against Chester will go on with safety measures put in place last year still intact.

"I will be doing screening at that game. I will be checking bags, explicit directions, will be using a wand," said Scriven.

Police say the student was in possession of a ghost gun, which is untraceable. Police also found two loaded magazines, and 31 rounds of ammunition on the student. Investigators said that's more rounds than an officer carries on duty.

With less than two minutes left in the third quarter, the game was canceled.

In Abington, school officials met with law enforcement on Monday morning in an attempt to figure out their next steps when it comes to games this fall.

"There were a lot of options discussed, and I don't think anything is off the table," said Chris Porter, deputy chief of Abington Township police. "Everything from metal detectors to how do we proceed with timing of games, and how do we handle crowd control more effectively."

Police said they are still working to determine why the student brought the gun to the game.

They are also working with the ATF to determine where the gun is from because it did not have a serial number.

The 17-year-old is charged with felony possession of a firearm.