A 16-year-old was charged Monday with having a pistol with an extended magazine at a St. Paul high school last week.

A school security officer told police that the student just transferred to Central Senior High School and school personnel decided to meet with him on Nov. 21 “to discuss school rules and expectations,” according to a juvenile petition. His first day enrolled at the school was Nov. 16.

The security officer saw the teen hand his backpack to another student. “They thought this was unusual behavior, so they retrieved the backpack,” the petition said. The security officer looked inside and saw a handgun. There was a round in the chamber and ammunition in the extended magazine.

Police took the 16-year-old into custody. He said he placed his backpack next to people inside the lunchroom, and that he had not brought a gun to school or had one in his backpack.

The Ramsey County attorney’s office charged him with possession of a dangerous weapon on school property and possession of a firearm. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a person adjudicated delinquent for a crime of violence; he was previously adjudicated delinquent for the same offense in a 2022 case. He also was adjudicated delinquent in a 2021 juvenile case of first-degree burglary.

He pleaded not guilty Monday and is being held in the juvenile detention center.

Related Articles

Father of two identified as South St. Paul shooting victim; two suspects arrested

Stabbing of Derek Chauvin raises questions about inmate safety

Investigation underway after a man was shot and killed in South St. Paul Friday afternoon

St. Paul police investigating after person found dead in a cave

Man convicted of carjackings, including case connected to puppy thrown from window, gets 18 year federal prison term