Kenny A. Hall
Hixson High School was placed under a "lock-down" Wednesday afternoon after a gun was found on campus.
The sheriff's department said, after receiving a complaint, a search began and a 9mm handgun was located.
As a result of the search, two individuals, who do not attend Hixson High School, were arrested.
Authorities said the pair was stopped by the SRO officer shortly before 1 p.m.
Kenny A. Hall, 18, was charged with criminal trespassing, possession of a stolen car and possession of narcotics.
Derrick L. Jones, 18, was charged with criminal trespassing and possession of a firearm on school grounds.
Hall is a student at Soddy-Daisy High School and did not attend school today.
School officials said Jones was put out on a Zero Tolerance offense from East Ridge High School earlier this year and has not been in school since.
General Sessions Court Judge Bob Moon set their bonds at around $300,000 each.
Sgt. Max Templeton said, "It was quickly determined that neither of the young men attended Hixson High School.
"While being taken into custody an unloaded 9mm handgun was found in the pocket of Jones.
"The school was immediately placed in lockdown and back up officers responded to search the school for any other trespassers. Once the school was searched and nothing additional found, school status was returned to normal. Due to the time of day the incident caused delays in the school bus service to several area schools.
"It was also determined that the vehicle they drove to the school had been reported stolen. Hall has had possession of the vehicle for several days according to a statement taken at the scene. A quantity of suspected cocaine was also found in the vehicle."
The lockdown was put in place while Supt. Jim Scales was at Central High School holding a press conference on measures to deal with violence in the county schools.
He said, "The SRO recognized immediately that they were not supposed to be on campus, and they were apprehended."
He said the lockdown "is part of the process."
Derrick L. Jones