Police tipped off to guns at Monroe schools, students arrested

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Two juveniles are accused of bringing guns onto school campuses in Monroe, prompting their arrests.

In a news release, the Monroe Police Department says that around 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 29, 2022, a school resource officer at Carroll High School was alerted of a student on campus with a gun. The officer was able to locate the student shortly after receiving the tip. Officials say a handgun was found in the 14-year-old’s possession. The student was arrested and booked into Green Oaks Detention Center on charges of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm on a school campus and possession of a firearm by a juvenile.

Later, at 11:00 a.m. on the same day, police say they received a tip about another student bringing a gun to a school in the city. This time it was at Carroll Junior High. Police say the weapon was found in a 14-year-old student’s backpack. The student was immediately taken into custody and booked at Green Oaks Detention Center on weapon charges.

A third tip took police to Wossman High School around noon. The school was put on lockdown for a short time and the student in question was located. This time, however, police did not find a gun on campus.

Both news releases are reproduced in full below:

Monroe PD News Release:

“At approximately 8:30 AM on August 29, 2022, a school resource office for Carroll High School, located at 2939 Renwick Street, received information that a student was on campus with a handgun. Shortly after the information was received, the school resource officer was able to locate and take the student into custody. A handgun was also located in his possession. The 14-year-old male student was arrested for possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm on a school campus, and possession of a firearm by a juvenile. He was booked at Green Oaks Detention Center on the stated charges.

“At approximately 11:00 AM on August 29, 2022, a tip was received that another student at Carroll Junior High, located at 2945 Renwick Street, was in possession of a weapon. The weapon was found in his backpack. The 14-year-old male student was immediately taken into custody and booked at Green Oaks Detention Center on weapon charges.

“At the time of the arrests, both campuses were rendered safe.”

Monroe PD News Release:

“Shortly before 12 p.m. on August 29, 2022, an anonymous tip was received that a student at Wossman High School was in possession of a weapon. The student was located and no weapon was found. The school was on lockdown for approximately 25 minutes during the incident. The campus has been deemed safe and the accusation appears to have been false.”