Two Henrico County students charged after bringing guns to campus

Two Henrico County high school students at different schools were charged – less than 40 minutes apart – with bringing guns to their school campuses June 1.

At about 11:06 a.m. at Hermitage High School, a student reported to administrators that another student had been showing a firearm in a school restroom.

School officials and the school’s resource police officers investigated and found the gun in the student’s backpack. Officials said that there was no known specific threat. The student, a juvenile, was charged with possession of a firearm by a juvenile, possession of a weapon on school property and possession of marijuana.

Then, at 11:41 a.m. at Varina High School, school officials searched an 18-year-old student who smelled of marijuana. During the search, they discovered items that prompted them to conduct a search of the student’s vehicle, where they found a gun

The student, Haythem Wadah Ali, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm on school property.

School system and police officials continue to encourage anyone who sees or hears about firearms on school campuses to report those incidents to school authorities or police immediately.