Police: Students posed with real guns in school

NEW CASTLE, Del. (WPVI) -- Delaware State Police say three students have been charged after school administrators found they had guns at a New Castle school.

Police said Friday that the weapons were discovered Wednesday at William Penn High School.

Investigators say school administrators removed two students from their classrooms after seeing an Instagram photo showing the students posing with a handgun in a school bathroom.

School staff searched both students' bags.

They found a 16-year-old boy had a realistic looking gas-powered pellet gun. A 15-year-old boy had an unloaded 9mm handgun.

After further investigation, they determined a third student had originally brought the handgun to school, and school staff found ammunition in his book bag.

All three students are being charged with possession of a weapon in a school zone and related charges.

The Colonial School District released a statement Friday, which read in part:

Dr. Dorothy Linn, Superintendent of the Colonial School District, applauds the student who showed the Instagram photo to a school administrator, and praised the staff for taking swift action to remove the students without endangering others, but says she is deeply disturbed by what occurred at the school.

"The safety of our students and staff is a top priority. It is disheartening to know that these three students made such poor choices, especially at a time when the majority of students at William Penn are doing the right thing and don't deserve the black eye that this incident will bring," Linn said, adding that the district is fully cooperating with law enforcement officials.

WPHS parents were notified by an automated phone call from Principal, Dr. Jeffrey Menzer after police completed the initial part of the on-going investigation.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.